At a time when India is fighting the second wave of the Wuhan Virus, also known as the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19,) the new variant named Delta virus is spreading.
The new variant of COVID-19, B.1.617.2.1 which was found in India named Delta virus is now muted to Delta plus. According to sources, Delta plus, also known as ‘AY.1’ variant or B.1.617.2.1, is considered to be the most dangerous variant of COVID-19. This new mutant is currently found in three states of India, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.
In Maharashtra, Rajesh Tope, the Health Minister of Maharashtra, on the 21st of June, said the State has 19 cases of the COVID-19 Delta plus variant. Of the total cases, 9 were from Jalgaon, 7 from Mumbai and 1 each from Sindhudurg , Thane and Palgarh districts.
In regard to this, the Maharashtra Government and Medical Department decided to begin genome sequencing, in which 100 samples would be taken from every district for testing. The taken sample would be then sent to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) and the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) is being involved in this process. Mr. Rajesh Tope said, “Since May 15, 7,500 samples have been taken in which about 21 cases of delta plus have been found.”
Madhya Pradesh:
The first case of Delta plus variant in India was reported in a 65 year old woman from Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal. The new variant infected women after she recovered from the COVID-19 under home isolation and was also administered two doses of the vaccine. Her samples were collected on the 23rd of May and reports from the National Central for Disease Control (NCDC) on the 16th of June confirmed her to be positive for the new mutant.
Kerala:
In Kerala, the State Government confirmed the presence of the Delta plus variant has been found in samples collected from Palakkad and Pathanamthitta districts. The officials added the authorities have taken stringent measures in these areas to prevent its further spread. In Palakkad, two people have been found infected with the variant while one case has been reported in Pathanamthitta.
The District Collector of Pathanamthitta Dr. Narasimhugari T.L.Reddy on the 21st of June, the patient is a four year old boy from Kadapra panchayat. The variant was detected in a genetic study of the boy’s samples conducted at the CSIR-IGIB.
Speaking about the new variant spread in India, the Union Health Ministry is yet to reveal details of the new variant and did not classify it as a ‘variant of concern.’
In addition, the NITI Aayog’s Dr. V.K. Paul said the way forward is to watch for the variant’s potential presence in the country and take appropriate public health responses.
The new variant of the Wuhan virus (the Novel Coronavirus) found in India is said to be dangerous for people, even after receiving doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. As per preliminary study by the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Delh, the new Wuhan virus variant, B1. 617.2 named as Delta, is possible to infect people even if they are fully vaccinated against the Wuhan virus.
Stay tuned for further updates.
Mango News Links:
Telegram: https://t.me/mangonewsofficial
Google Play Store: https://bit.ly/2R4cbgN
Apple / iOS Store: https://apple.co/2xEYFJ
