Though the Covid graph is flattening in the country, the country is still in an alarming state. The trepidation of the upcoming (if not tended properly) unavoidable third – wave along with the dreadful consequences has terrified millions of people yet over again. The infamous variants of virus are raising the concern. Labelled as the ‘variant of concern’ Delta was categorised by the Health Ministry as a major threat.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a US government interagency group developed a variant classification which includes the following three categories:
*Variant of interest
*Variant of concern
*Variant of high consequence
As per CDC report a ‘variant of concern’ is one for which there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe diseases that require hospitalisation or death, a significant reduction in neutralisation by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures. The ‘Delta Plus’ variant made it to the list as it manifested three such characteristics – increased transmissibility; stronger binding in receptors of lung cells; and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response.
‘Variants of concern’ include B.1.1.7 or Alpha first identified in the UK, B.1.351 or Beta first identified in South Africa, and B.1.427 or Epsilon first identified in the US. Earlier, World Health Organisation (WHO) had identified the Delta variant or B.1.617.2, first found in India, as a ‘variant of concern’.
In spite of reports calling the Delta variant the “fastest and fittest variant”, the UK government is still moving forward with easing restrictions, planning to move to in England on 19 July.
“Of course the pandemic is not over. The virus is still with us, it hasn’t gone away – and the risk of a dangerous new variant that evades vaccines remains real,” said Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in statement of Parliament.
Meanwhile, Lambda, the latest COVID-19 variant of interest is prevalent in 30 countries and is becoming an increasing cause of concern across the world. While the world is still dealing with the rise in cases due to the Delta variant, this new variant is the reason behind the fresh increase in cases in European and American countries. It still hasn’t entered the country, “had it entered India, it would have been detected by INSACOG (The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium of Genomics)”, Niti Aayog member (health) VK Paul said on Friday, during the press briefing of the health ministry.
The third type i.e. the ‘variant of consequences’ is a variant of high consequence, which has clear evidence that prevention measures or medical countermeasures (MCMs) have significantly reduced effectiveness relative to previously circulating variants. The CDC said a variant found to be of “high consequence” would require it be reported to the World Health Organization.
Whereas, the health ministry also commented on the reports of Kappa variant cases in Uttar Pradesh and said that the variant of interest is not new in India. It was detected at the same time when the Delta variant was reported. But in the course of time, Kappa got overshadowed by Delta. “If cases are detected, this means that the variant has stayed in the country. Delta is a related variant of Kappa. Kappa is much less in its intensity. There are many variants in the country. Not all cases are of Delta variant. Our watch will continue,” Dr VK Paul said.
