Explained: Delta Plus variant, a new concern

Scientists are worried about the Delta plus variant due to the presence of Beta variant and the features of the Delta variant in it, which can make it more infectious

Hyderabad: Covid-19 is causing devastating effects globally. According to worldometers, an agency which keeps updating on the number of Covid cases has reported that the number of cases reached 181,276,844 and 3,927,310 deaths reported globally. WHO named the virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), commonly called as coronavirus. Many vaccines have been rolled out to fight Covid-19 around the world, but still the pandemic is dangerous because of the virus’ mutation power.

Since SARS-CoV-2 was detected in Wuhan in December of 2019 December, there have been multiple mutant variants found in different parts of the world. Among them, the latest threat is Delta plus. WHO has classified the mutant variants of coronavirus with Greek letters. They announced 12 mutations of coronavirus and classified them in two categories; ‘variants of interest’ and ‘variants of concern’. The virus mutations identified as variants of concern are more dangerous because they show increased transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology or have increased virulence or change in clinical disease presentation and possibly vaccines may not work for them.

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What is the Delta plus variant?

Delta variant of coronavirus found first in India and because of its increased transmissibility it has been classified as a variant of concern. “Delta Plus” variant was first reported in a Public Health England bulletin on June 11. But it is named as Delta plus, because it is a sub-lineage of the Delta variant first detected in India and has acquired the spike protein mutation called K417N which is also found in the Beta variant first identified in South Africa.

Why is it dangerous?

Scientists are worried about the Delta plus variant due to the double mutation and the features of the Delta variant can make it more infectious. “The mutation has been of interest as it is present in the Beta variant (B.1.351 lineage), which was reported to have immune evasion property,” Union health ministry said in a statement.

Delta plus variant possibly can evade vaccines due to the presence of Beta variant in it, warned Prof. Shaheed Jameel, top virologist in the country quoted as saying in an interview to The Science Wire.

Affected areas in India

On June 26, Maharashtra had the highest number of Covid cases with Delta plus variant. 22 cases reported in Maharashtra. Total number of cases reported across the country is at 52 as of Saturday. The other states which are affected are Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Four Delta plus deaths were also reported in the nation so far, with two in Madhya Pradesh and one each in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Vaccine Efficacy on Delta plus variant

According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Balaram Bhargava, “Delta Plus variant has also been isolated and cultured at ICMR-NIV and laboratory tests to check vaccine effect on Delta Plus variant and the results will be out in 7-10 days.”

According to director of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Sujeet Singh, the Delta variant is already a Variant of Concern (VoC), its sub-lineage can also be called a VoC.

What to do?

Even if Delta plus can evade vaccines or have increased transmissibility, Covid appropriate behaviour and wearing a mask properly can keep the virus at bay.

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