NEW DELHI: Recombinant or hybrid variants of SARS-CoV2, which were initially dubbed as one-off cases, are now being monitored closely by World Health Organization (WHO). They are essentially new variants with characteristics of two or more existing variants.
Scientists say a close monitoring of such variants is necessary for timely identification of recombinants that may have immune-escape properties, meaning they can cause Covid-19 infection even in those who have been infected previously or those who have been vaccinated.
