India on Tuesday declared the Delta plus variant of COVID-19 as a variant of concern and also issued an advisory to 3 states, Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh where this strain has been detected in 22 samples, to take immediate measures to curb its spread. INSACOG, a network of 28 laboratories in the country, has attached Delta plus variant with increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response, the Union health ministry announced. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Monday had said the spread of Delta plus variant had been detected in 6-7 districts in the state but the Centre on Tuesday associated just two districts in the state with the variant. Scientists working with INSACOG explained that the new Delta plus variant has been formed due to further mutation in the Delta or B.1.617.2 variant, first identified in India which was largely responsible for the ferocious second COVID wave in the country. “There is an indication that Delta plus variant may be more apt to cause severe COVID19 and is also looking better designed to evade monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment for the infectious disease—these facts definitely are causing a lot of anxiety,” said an expert.

Source: The Nation June 23, 2021 03:11 UTC