Scientists Warn of Potential Emergence of “Hi-Vi-Cron” Variant

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Dr Geert Vanden Bossche:

A new warning has been issued about the possible evolution of a highly virulent COVID-19 variant, tentatively dubbed “Hi-Vi-Cron” (Highly Virulent Omicron descendant). Experts caution that such a strain could emerge at any time and rapidly gain dominance due to a unique fitness advantage.

According to recent analysis, repeated breakthrough infections and vaccination-related immune alterations may have left some individuals with only one remaining line of defense against the virus: their innate immune system’s ability to trigger strong inflammatory responses through antiviral cytokines.

The concern is that if a recombinant variant acquires the ability to suppress cytokine production, it could effectively bypass this last immune safeguard. “Such a mechanism would silence immune responses in these populations – ultimately allowing the virus to come back stronger and more virulent,” one expert explained.

This scenario has been described as a natural consequence of ongoing viral evolution. Variants that overcome antibodies while simultaneously reducing inflammatory signaling could achieve what scientists call an “absolute fitness advantage,” spreading quickly through the population.

The emergence of such a strain would depend on stochastic recombination events among the many Omicron subvariants currently in circulation. With so many viral strains coexisting globally, researchers caution that the conditions for such a development are already in place.

While no “Hi-Vi-Cron” variant has yet been identified, scientists are urging continued vigilance, transparent data monitoring, and deeper investigation into the long-term effects of repeated vaccination and breakthrough infections.

Source: https://voiceforscienceandsolidarity.substack.com/p/hi-vi-cron-could-now-emerge-at-any

In short, this is how the ongoing COVID-19 immune escape pandemic may eventually play out:

In a natural coronavirus outbreak, herd immunity eventually halts transmission. But in the current immune escape pandemic, the end will come only when immune systems in highly vaccinated populations are collectively driven to refocus — and ultimately silenced.

Omicron, through antibody-dependent enhancement of infection, promoted immune refocusing and temporarily reduced virulence in heavily vaccinated groups. However, a potential “Hi-Vi-Cron” (Highly Virulent Omicron descendant) could suppress immune inflammation altogether, effectively switching off immune defenses. This would enable the virus to rebound with far greater strength and virulence.