Delta variant of Coronavirus predominates in Varanasi: CCMB

The multidisciplinary research unit at BHU collected about 130 samples for sequencing from Varanasi and areas around the city in April

Hyderabad: Seven major strains of coronavirus, out of which the B.1.617.2 or Delta variant being the dominant one, are circulating in Varanasi and adjoining areas, according to a gene sequencing study taken-up by Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in collaboration with Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

The multidisciplinary research unit at BHU collected about 130 samples for sequencing from Varanasi and areas around the city in April. The team at CCMB sequenced these samples and found out that there were at least seven major variants circulating in the region.

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“Among the Variants of Concern (VoC), the most predominant variant we found in our study was B.1.617. This variant was also reported to be one of the major drivers of the second COVID-19 wave in India”, said Prof Singh, who heads the Multidisciplinary Research Unit at BHU.

“Just as in most of India, the B.1.617.2 variant (aka Delta variant) was the most common one in the samples we studied. They were found among 36 per cent of the total samples. Other VoCs such as the B.1.351, detected in South Africa for the first time, were also found in this area”, said Dr Rakesh Mishra, Advisor, CCMB.

The study confirms yet again that the Delta variant is the most widespread coronavirus variant in the country right now. But at the same time, it is imperative for us to keep an eye on the other emerging variants in the country to prevent another unprecedented surge of cases, he added.

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