Panaji: While evidence shows that the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) dominated during the second wave of COVID-19 in India, there is a growing concern about the parent variant’s most recent mutation, known as the Delta Plus or AY.01.
As per Dr Anil Mehndiratta, senior pulmonologist and former IMA Goa state president, Delta Plus possesses not only all of the characteristics of the original Delta variant but also a mutation known as K417N, which was discovered in the Beta variant in South Africa.
“Delta Plus is resistant to both antibody and vaccine immunity, as well as treatments that prevent COVID from progressing, such as the new monoclonal antibody treatment marketed in India by Roche and Cipla, which has shown promising preliminary results,” he said.
“The efficacy of AZ (AstraZeneca vaccine) against Delta variant is not 90 per cent (it is 60 per cent), Pfizer is 88 per cent in one non-trial study. However, 1 dose of vaccine (both types averaged) is just 33 per cent. And many countries are just 1 dose vaccinated,” he added.
“There is a high possibility that Delta plus variant may trigger third wave of COVID-19 in India. At a time when India has barely put behind the horrors of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, Maharashtra has sounded alert for the third wave. Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was held responsible for towering second wave of the coronavirus pandemic,” he mentioned.
“Now, Delta Plus variant has been detected even though it has not been classified as a variant of concern (VoC). Delta Plus variant was first detected in Europe in March this year. The health ministry says the Delta plus variant, first found in India in April, has been detected in around 40 samples from six districts in three states – Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. At least 16 of these samples were found in Maharashtra, one of the states hardest hit by the pandemic.”
Delta plus has also been found in nine other countries – USA, UK, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Poland, Nepal, Russia and China – compared to the original highly contagious Delta strain, which has now spread to 80 countries, he said.
“Delta Plus is a new version of its mutant variant Delta. It is, however, not known whether Delta Plus variant is more infectious or fatal compared to the Delta variant. Delta variant has been found to be more deadlier and capable of causing more severe COVID-19, leading to higher rate of hospitalisation of patients.”
Every successful mutation helps a virus or any other organism thrive better. This is principally why Delta Plus variant of SARS-CoV-2 has become a worry for an anticipated third wave, which can be prevented or mitigated at least on the basis of lessons learnt from the past two waves of COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Mehndiratta stated.
“With a significant decline in cases, state after states are opening up. Both the public and the government need economic activities to gain pace, which requires lifting of COVID-induced restrictions. As the restrictions were lifted, people had shed the COVID-19 protocol. The result was that after a few months, COVID-19 pandemic came back with the biggest global surges in India.”
As per Dr Mehndiratta, three crucial things to avoid third wave of COVID-19 are: following COVID appropriate behaviour, maintaining good surveillance and getting vaccinated, and noted that mutation of the virus is a matter of concern.
“If we do these three things, we will be able to get away either by not having a third wave or delaying it or it will have a very little peak. We must understand virus is still there and mutating. It is becoming more of a cause of concern,” stated Dr Mehndiratta.
The post COVID-appropriate behaviour, vaccination can help prevent third wave: Mehndiratta appeared first on The Navhind Times.
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