As the third wave recedes and Indians are increasingly getting lax with Covid protocols, here’s some bad news that could throw a spanner into any upcoming summer travel plans.
Researchers at the Paris-based L’Institut Pasteur have shared the “first solid evidence” for a Delta-Omicron recombinant virus with GISAID, the leading SARS-CoV-2 database. It reportedly combines omicron’s spike protein with the “body” of a delta variant.
Recombinant strains emerge when two variants infect the same host cell and swap parts of their genomes. The new recombinant is a mix of the sub-lineages AY.4 and BA.1.
It has been identified in several regions of France as well as Denmark and The Netherlands. Experts say it is too soon to gauge Deltacron’s transmissibility and severity due to the lack of adequate data.
But given the deadly nightmare that delta was and omicron’s highly-transmissible nature, a blend may spell bad news. “Structural analysis of the recombinant spike suggested its hybrid content could optimise viral binding to the host cell membrane,” reads the yet-to-be peer-reviewed study.
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Headaches are a common side effect of getting vaccinated against Covid, but when it comes to migraines, available data shows that only people with a history of this condition need to worry.
Migraine is a chronic condition causing recurring episodes of throbbing or pulsating pain, usually on one side of the head. More than one billion people worldwide and 16% of Indians suffer this condition.
A 2021 study of 841 migraine patients found 66.47% and 60.15% of respondents reporting a migraine episode after the first and second vaccine dose, respectively. An attack reportedly comes within 24 hours of getting jabbed. It’s also possible for it to be more severe or longer in duration compared to normal migraine.
That does not bode well for migraine sufferers, who know how debilitating a regular attack can be. According to the Global Burden of Disease, migraine is the second most prevalent neurological disorder worldwide and is responsible for more disability than all other neurological disorders combined.
