New Delhi: India recovers from the second wave of Covid-19 triggered primarily by the Delta variant, a mutated version of the novel coronavirus, the Delta Plus variant is now raising concern in the country. So far, cases of the Delta Plus variant have been reported in four states: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka.
While cases have been reported, enough samples have not yet been genome-sequenced to know how widespread the newly discovered Delta Plus variant is. About 200 sequences have been detected across the globe, of which 30 are in India. The Union Health Ministry said last week that Delta Plus is not a “variant of concern” right now as it has not been conclusively proved that the strain poses “adverse consequences to humanity by increase in transmissibility and severity”.
Health experts, however, have warned that the Delta Plus or AY.01 variant, which is a mutated form of the Delta variant, may unleash a third wave in the coming months, as it could possibly circumvent the body’s immune system.
The Delta plus variant has been reported in four states as of now.
Karnataka: Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar said on Tuesday that two cases of the Delta Plus variant have been detected in the state.
“Both are mild cases with little to no change in the treatment. Nothing to worry about. We have eight genomic labs coming for sequencing in the next 30 days. Five percent of samples will be sent there,” the minister said.
Maharashtra: Twenty-one cases of the ‘Delta plus’ variant of COVID-19 have been found in Maharashtra so far, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said.
The highest nine cases were reported in Ratnagiri, followed by seven in Jalgaon, two in Mumbai, and one case each in Palghar, Thane and Sindhudurg districts, Tope told reporters on Monday. The incidence of the Delta Plus variants comes close in the heels of the Mucormycosis or Black Fungus that the state is grappling with since the past couple of months.
So far, the state has tested over 7,500 and more are being collected at the rate of 100 per district for the Delta variants, said officials.
Kerala: At least three cases of Delta-plus variant have been found in samples collected from two Kerala districts- Palakkad and Pathanamthitta, officials said here on Monday. Pathanamthitta district collector Dr Narasimhugari T L Reddy said a four-year-old boy from Kadapra panchayat in the district was found infected with the new Delta-plus variant.
The new variant was discovered in a genetic study of the boy’s samples conducted at CSIR-IGIB (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi).
Madhya Pradesh: A 65-year-old woman has tested positive for the Delta Plus variant of coronavirus here, official sources said. The development came even as the second wave of the pandemic is waning in Madhya Pradesh and restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the infection are being eased.
According to officials, the samples of the woman, who lives near a big medical facility, were collected on May 23. Reports received from the National Central for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday said she was positive for the ‘Delta Plus’ variant. The woman, who has taken two shots of anti-coronavirus vaccine, recovered in home isolation, sources added.
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