South African researchers have discovered that the Omicron infection enhances neutralizing immunity against the Delta strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, suggesting that Omicron will help push Delta out, and decrease likelihood that someone infected with Omicron will get re-infected with Delta.
Scientists affiliated with the Africa Health Research Institute (Sigal Lab in Durban, South Africa), enrolled 15 participants in a study which showed results are consistent with Omicron displacing the Delta variant, since it can elicit immunity which neutralizes Delta – making re-infection with Delta less likely.
“In contrast, Omicron escapes neutralizing immunity elicited by Delta and therefore may re-infect Delta infected individuals,” the researchers said in a pre-print, not yet peer reviewed.