The outbreak of the second wave of coronavirus is not yet over. And then, delta Plus, a new variant of coronavirus has increased the concern of people. Mutation in coronavirus increases day by day. When the delta variant ( B.1.617.2) replicates and mutates, it is called “delta plus” (AY.1). It is received the Plus designation because it is not different enough from the delta variant to merit its own alphabet letter.
The delta plus variant sticks very tightly to the lung cells of the infected person. At the same time, the immunity of the body becomes very weak this.
The variant was first seen in Europe in March and has been under surveillance. Also, the Public Health England report found 63 genomes of the Delta variant with the K417N mutation have been identified on the GISAID.
Besides this, the Delta Plus variant has been found in the UK, Switzerland, Portugal, Japan, China, Russia, Nepal, US, Poland.
According to the Health Ministry of India –“ this variant first found in India in April, has been detected in around 40 samples from six districts in three states, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh.”
SCIENTIFIC NAME OF DELTA PLUS – B.1.617.2
This is resistant to monoclonal antibodies and is not yet a variant of concern (VoC) because of low cases in India.
According to Dr. Gagandeep Kang ( a virologist )-“ there is no data yet to support the variant of concern claim. You need biological and clinical information to consider whether it is truly a variant of concern (VoC).
According to a study by Oxford University, covid -19 vaccines made by AstraZeneca and the Pfizer- BioNTech alliance remain broadly effective against Delta and Kappa variants of the Covid-19 causing virus. However, it is not yet clear if the existing vaccines are effective against this variant.