An Israel-based study has claimed that the world will soon see a new Covid-19 outbreak. According to a modeling study, it said that the omicron version of the coronavirus may be down, but there could be another outbreak of the delta variant or a new strain of covid this summer.
The finding, published last week in the journal Science of the Total Environment, suggests that while Delta wiped out earlier variants, Omicron did not. deadly version which can re-emerge.
Researchers at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Israel have developed sensitive arrays that can detect fractions in wastewater from one another. And, the researchers claimed that the coronavirus is still active even when there is a decline in PCR and rapid testing of people.
Researchers have observed “troubling interactions” between Omicron and Delta variants in the Israeli city of Beer-Sheva from December 2021 to January 2022.
Until now, the researchers said, whenever a new, dominant, variant appears, it tends to dominate its predecessor after a short parallel period.
However, in contrast to the expected dynamics, where the delta variance decreases as the omicron version increases, the results obtained from the detection of wastewater indicated a latent movement of the delta even with increased omicron levels, he said.
“According to the developed model, it can be expected that the omicron level will decrease until the end, while the delta variant will retain its latent circulation,” the study authors said.
The researchers note that the deployment of wastewater-based epidemiology is recommended as a convenient and representative tool for epidemic prevention.
The disturbing prediction by the Israel-based study comes close on the heels of a statement made by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. In an interview with the Financial Times, the billionaire stressed that “we are still in danger of this pandemic creating a version that will be even more contagious and even more deadly”.
Recently, the American business magnate has also authored a book “How to Prevent the Next Pandemic” which talks about the lessons learned from the COVID pandemic and how to prevent the next one.