The American pharmaceutical company "Moderna" has warned of the possibility of being infected with both strains of the coronavirus, "Delta" and "Omicron," at the same time, explaining that this could lead to viral evolution and the creation of a new variant. Paul Burton, the chief specialist at the company that produced the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, stated in a presentation before the UK House of Commons Science and Technology Committee that two different strains of the coronavirus can infect a person simultaneously, especially individuals with weakened immunity.
He explained that in this case, there could be a gene exchange between the two strains, which in turn could lead to viral development and the creation of a new mutation. Burton added, “In the coming months, these two viruses (Delta and Omicron) will coexist... The Omicron virus will spread at a time when people are experiencing a very challenging situation with the Delta variant, and this could lead to cases where individuals are infected with different types, allowing for further development of these viruses, which is concerning.”
The chief specialist at Moderna emphasized that the "Omicron" variant, which first appeared in South Africa, is not less dangerous than the "Delta" strain. It is worth noting that the World Health Organization has classified the "Omicron" variant as a "variant of concern." Experts believe that those who were previously infected with the coronavirus and have been vaccinated could be reinfected.
