Delta Plus variant detected in three Indian states: characteristics

Covid, the Delta Plus variant, also known as 'AY.1', detected in three Indian states: characteristics and expert opinions.

Covid, Delta Plus variant detected in three Indian states: spreads more easily than Delta and binds more easily to lung cells.

Delta Plus variant detected in three Indian states

The so-called ‘Delta Plus’ variant of Covid, which was first detected last April, is spreading faster and faster in India.

According to the BBC, the Ministry of Health has so far detected 22 cases of the new strain in six districts of three Indian states: Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. Of these cases, 16 have been detected in Maharashtra, which is one of the Indian states most affected by the pandemic.

Delta Plus variant: characteristics and expert opinions

This variant, also known as ‘AY.1’, has already been detected in nine countries including the US and the UK, and, according to the ministry, it spreads more easily than Delta and binds more rapidly to lung cells.

“Delta Plus may have a slight advantage in infecting and spreading among people who were previously infected during the pandemic or who have weak or incomplete vaccine immunity,” explains Dr Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at Louisiana State University’s Centre for Health Sciences.

‘Variant of concern’

In fact, scientists have dubbed it a ‘variant of concern’ (Voc) precisely because it is characterised by ease of transmission, more severe disease, reduced neutralisation by antibodies or reduced effectiveness of treatments and vaccines.

‘Can’t say it’s of concern yet’

Other virologists, on the other hand, are dubious about labelling the variant as of concern, pointing out that there is not yet enough data to prove that Delta Plus is more infectious or causes more severe disease than other variants: ‘There is no data yet to support the variant of concern claim,’ explains Dr and virologist Gagandeep Kang, ‘we need biological and clinical information to consider whether it is really a variant of concern’.

Delta Plus variant: ‘be careful’

“The Indian variant is a cause for concern because it is 50% more infectious and contagious than the British variant, which was already contagious,” Walter Ricciardi, consultant to the Health Minister for the Coronavirus emergency and professor of Hygiene at the Catholic University of Rome, told AdnKronos Health.

“So we will have a very contagious variant, we should more than ever accelerate vaccination coverage and continue to be careful. In the autumn I think it could be dominant throughout Europe. The Dutch predict that in October it will account for 100% of the infections in their country. If we are not careful I assume it will be the same here. But we must try to avoid it,” Ricciardi concludes.