Appears many recombinant variants of SARS-CoV-2

With the number of new cases and deaths due to COVID-19 significantly reduced, more and more countries and territories have adjusted their anti-epidemic strategies to help the process of reopening economies with positive results. However, the fact that a series of Asian countries last week recorded many infections with different recombinant variants of virus SARS-CoV-2after hundreds of cases were detected in Europe earlier, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue a warning about the possibility of continuing to “morph” of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the future.

Only from the beginning of April until now, a series of countries have detected cases of infection with two types of recombinant variants being closely monitored and monitored by WHO, XD (a combination of Delta and Omicron variants) and XE (combined with variants of Delta and Omicron) combination of two sub-variants BA.1 and BA.2 of the Omicron series).

Thailand was the first country in Southeast Asia to report the XE variant, with a suspected case identified on April 2, followed by cases recorded in India on April 6 and April 9.

On April 8, the Australian state of New South Wales announced the detection of cases of Deltacron variant (a combination of Delta and Omicron), as well as infections of recombinant variants BA.1 and BA.2 of Omicron, However, it is not clear whether the XE version was first discovered in the UK.

Meanwhile, China – the first country to record cases of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the world, announced the discovery of 2 new cases of Omicron variants with genetic sequences that do not match any other variants. yes, one case originated from BA.1 and one case originated from BA.2.

“If two strains of the virus infect the same cell, they can swap DNA and combine to create a new version of the virus,” said Dr. Paul Burton, chief medical officer of the pharmaceutical company Moderna. SARS-CoV-2 is more dangerous, this process is known as “recombination event.” The fact that both the Omicron and Delta variants were widespread in many places late last year makes this scenario highly likely. than”.

WHO believes that countries should continue to strengthen their COVID-19 planning to respond to outbreaks and mutations, and be ready for any future pandemics.

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