Delta Plus Variant Covid cases found in 3 States of India

Delta Plus Variant Covid cases found in 3 States of India

The Centre on Tuesday termed the emerging Delta plus variant a 'variant of concern' just hours after Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and chairman, National Empowered Group on Vaccination V.K. Paul said it was only a 'variant of interest (Vol). A variant of concern (VoC) carries the highest threat perception of a coronavirus variant, which is characterised by increased infectivity, transmissibility or resistance to vaccines and treatment.

The decision comes after INSACOG, a consortium of 28 laboratories of the Health Ministry that is involved in genome sequencing, Informed the Centre on Tuesday that the Delta Plus variant has three worrying characteristics:

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

* Increased transmissibility;

* Stronger binding in receptors of lung cells;  * Potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response.

The variant has been found in 22 cases in Maharashtra, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh."The Centre has sent an advisory to these states about their public health response. The measures, while broadly remaining the same as have been implemented by them earlier, have to become more focused and effective. We don't want this small number to take a bigger form," VK Paul

WHERE WAS DELTA PLUS FIRST DETECTED?

The variant was first seen in Europe in March this year.

However, brought into the public domain only on June 13.

According to scientists, the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) has further mutated to form the Delta Plus (AY.1) variant.

WILL DELTA PLUS BE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE?

Delta Plus has the mutation called K417N- first found in the Beta variant (South Africa). This, coupled with the fact that it also possesses all other features of its predecessor Delta, might make the latest variant a lot more transmissible, some scientists seem to think.

HOW ARE VACCINES LIKELY TO FARE AGAINST DELTA PLUS ? 

The two Indian vaccines have shown 3 to 8 times less efficacy against Delta and Beta, reports say. Now, "whether this coming together of key mutations would be neutral, additive or more than the sum of both remains to be seen," says Prof Jameel.

According to research, the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines were found to be only 33% effective three weeks after the first dose against symptomatic cases of the Delta variant, compared to 50% effective for the Alpha variant. Bharat Biotech also said that Covaxin "demonstrates protective response" against the Delta and Beta variants. However, a study by AIIMS the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on a small group of 63 people suggested that neither Covishield nor Covaxin were effective against the variant.