Delta plus declared as variant of concern as 40 cases reported in India
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The Union Health Ministry has declared the Delta Plus variant of Covid-19 as a "variant of concern" and has warned Kerala, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh to remain alert to contain the clusters.
Delta Plus is a further mutated version of the Delta strain (B.1.617.2).
Over 40 cases of Delta Plus have been reported in India. Reported in the three states first, Delta Plus is no longer confined to them. New cases have been reported in Tamil Nadu (3), Karnataka (2), Punjab (1), Andhra Pradesh (1), and Jammu (1). Earlier, Kerala had reported three cases and Madhya Pradesh had reported six cases. Maharashtra tops the list with 21 cases.
Experts worry that Delta Plus may resist the existing treatment protocol designed for Covid-19. The effectiveness of vaccines is also being questioned. The Health Ministry said that the two vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin - are effective against the Delta variant.
The properties of Delta Plus are still being investigated by INSACOG (a consortium of 28 labs). The team tasked with genome sequencing of the coronavirus said that Delta Plus is characterised by a mutation in its spike protein.
The new variant is stronger and shows "increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells and potentially reduced monoclonal antibody response", said the INSACOG report.
The number of patients infected with Delta Plus is currently low. But the detection of the variant across the country over the past two months shows that it has already made its way into some states. The union government has recommended enhanced surveillance, testing, contact tracing, and vaccination to the states.
VK Paul, the head of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration said that the Centre has sent an advisory to Kerala, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh to encourage the public health response.
He added that the measures to prevent the spread of the highly infectious and fast-spreading variant remain broadly similar to earlier instructions but they have to become more focused and effective in order to keep it from spreading.