New Delhi: The massive spike in Covid-19 cases in the US and Europe, especially the UK, is being blamed on a possible 'Delmicron' wave.
The highly transmissible Omicron Covid-19 variant has already replaced the Delta variant as the dominant version in many European countries. This has led to governments announcing a fresh round of restrictions amid Christmas festivities even as health systems get overwhelmed due to the sudden surge in cases.
In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said Omicron was behind 73 per cent of all the Covid-19 infections last week while Delta accounted for 26.6 per cent of cases.
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So, Exactly What Is Delmicron?
Delmicron is not a new coronavirus variant, but a combination of the Delta and Omicron variants that is even more contagious and transmits faster.
A TOI report quoted Dr Shashank Joshi, member of Maharashtra's task force, as saying that "Delmicron, the twin spikes of Delta and Omicron, in Europe and US has led to a mini tsunami of cases."
Which People Are At Risk?
While simultaneous infection from Delta and Omicron Covid-19 variants is rare, health experts have said that immunocompromised people, old age and comorbidities could heighten risk of infection.
"Co-infection can happen from exposure to a large crowd with high chances of exposure to people infected with different Covid variants," Dr Namita Jaggi of Gurgaon's Artemis Hospital told IANS.
The UK's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies said in some places, Delta and Omicron are "operating separately as two epidemics at the same time", an IANS report said.
Delmicron Symptoms
There are specifically no different symptoms noticed yet by scientists. Those infected by Delta or Omicron Covid-19 variants have complained of more or less the same symptoms like a high temperature, persistent cough, headache, runny nose and sore throat.
Among the patients diagnosed with Omicron, the most common early sign includes a scratchy throat and nasal congestion, doctors in the UK and South Africa have said.
What Is The Situation In India?
With Omcron cases in the country nearing 250, Dr Shashank Joshi said it remains to be seen how the new variant would behave in India. Presently, Delta is the dominant variant in India,
"At present, Delta derivatives, descendants of Delta, are main variants in circulation in India. Omicron is fast replacing Delta in other parts of the world, but there is no way to predict how Delta derivatives and Omicron would behave," TOI quoted Dr Joshi as saying.