Delta variant to become even more contagious Delta Plus: Study

New Delhi : Highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus has further mutated to become more contagious 'Delta Plus or AY 1' variant, said a new study done by the scientists. However, they mentioned that there is nothing to worry about it immediately as India is showing no signs of it with continuously decreasing number of cases.

The scientists said that the new Delta plus variant has been formed due to a mutation in the highly transmissive Delta or B.1.617.2 variant, first identified in India and one of the drivers of the deadly second wave.

One of the emerging variants is B.1.617.2.1 also known as AY.1 characterized by the acquisition of K417N mutation, Vinod Scaria, clinician and scientist at Delhi’s CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), tweeted on Sunday.

According to Public Health England, 63 genomes of Delta (B.1.617.2) with the new K417N mutation have been identified so far on the global science initiative GISAID. In its latest report on coronavirus variants, updated till last Friday, the health agency said Delta plus was present in six genomes from India as of June 7.

It must be noted that the new Delta Plus variant is showing resistance to mAbs Casirivimab and Imdevimab; the treatment has been approved in India recently.

Casirivimab and Imdevimab are monoclonal antibodies that are specifically directed against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, and designed to block the virus’ attachment and entry into human cells.

Being cautious is the only way to survive this mutated Delta Plus variant.