Delta Plus variant will cause more severe disease or it is more transmissible
NEW DELHI : Compared to other strains of Coronavirus, the ‘Delta Plus’ variant has a greater affinity to lung tissues. However, according to Dr NK Arora, head of the National Technical Advisory Group on Vaccination, Covid-19 NTAGI, it does not mean that it will cause serious disease or that it is more transmissible. The Delta plus variant, which has been notified as a “variant of concern”, has a greater affinity to lung tissues as compared to other strains.
The Delta plus variant of COVID-19 has greater affinity to lung tissues as compared to other strains but it does not mean that it will cause severe disease or is more transmissible, head of coronavirus working group NTAGI Dr N K Arora said. A new viral variant of the coronavirus, Delta Plus, was identified on June 11. It was recently classified as a variant of concern. So far, 51 cases of Delta Plus have been reported in 12 states of the country. Maharashtra has the highest number of cases.”Delta plus is having greater affinity to mucosal lining in the lungs, higher compared to other variants, but if it causes damage or not is not clear yet. It also does not mean that this variant will cause more severe disease or it is more transmissible,” Dr Arora told news agency.
He said the impact of the Delta plus strain will become clear only as more cases are identified but it appears that the disease is generally mild in all those who have got either single or double dose of the vaccine. “We need to keep a very close watch and look at its spread so that it will give us transmission efficiency,” he said. Arora said the number of cases identified of Delta plus variant may be more as there may be many asymptomatic individuals also — those who do not have any Covid-19 symptoms but they are carrying the virus and spreading it.
“But the important point is that our genomic surveillance component has picked it up rightly and early enough. Now what will happen is that states have already been told that it is a variant of concern and it requires action which means that several states have already started making micro plans for the districts where the virus is identified so that their spread can be contained. Obviously vaccination will have to be increased in these districts,” he said.
Whether the Delta plus variant can trigger the third wave of coronavirus, Arora said it is difficult to assess that as of now. “Waves are linked to new variants or new mutations so there is a possibility as this is a new variant, but whether it will lead to a third wave it is difficult to answer as it will depend upon two or three things,” he said. “We need to keep a very close watch and look at its spread so that it will give us transmission efficiency,” he said.”If a large proportion is infected then in the next wave people can develop a common cold like illness but may not develop a serious or fatal illness,” he said.
(With PTI Inputs ).
