For the past year and a half, the entire world has witnessed the petrifying effects of the Coronavirus spread throughout the world and the number of lives it has claimed. Currently, the ‘variant of concern’ has emerged as the new reason for concern among the inhabitants. This highly transmissible variant is also believed to be impervious to some vaccines and therapies, which is concerning the experts.
Delta Plus is a mutated form of the Delta variant, first found in India in December, 2020. So far, it has been detected in 12 states, according to the government and claimed nearly 50 lives.
But, apart from this, there are other variants too which have the potential – though not as pronounced as Delta Plus – to infect the people and bring the economy back to a grinding halt.
According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the prominent variants of that coronavirus are: Alpha, Beta and Delta. The World Health Organisation (WHO) in a statement said the more a virus circulates in a population causing infection, the likelihood of the virus mutating increases. The more it spreads, the more it replicates – and has more opportunities to undergo changes known as mutation.
The B.1.1.7, or the Alpha variant, was first detected in the United States in December, 2020, the CDC said. The source of the variant has been traced to the United Kingdom, according to CDC. Next is B.1.351 or Beta variant of coronavirus. It started from South Africa in December last year and reached the United States in January.
The Delta or B.1.617.2 variant, which was first identified in India, is believed to be more virulent than the others and os wreaking havoc in South Africa. It spreads more quickly than the other variants, leading to more cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The Delta Plus is a mutated, and thus more dangerous, form of the Delta variant, due to which the Indian government has already declared it as a ‘variant of concern.’
According to experts, the Kappa variant or the double mutant strain of the virus, known as B.1.167.1, has raised red flags and led to widespread gene surveillance to look for its prevalence and spread.
The double mutation comprises of two variants of the virus, making it a distance lineage. These include the E484Q mutation, which is similar to another variant, the E484K, found in the fast-spreading Brazilian and South African variants of concern. It also includes the L452R mutation, which helps the virus escape our body’s natural immune response.
The WHO classified this as ‘Variant of Interest’ on 14 June. The variant was first identified in Peru in August 2020 and has since spread to 29 countries, mostly in Latin America.
The Lambda variant has also reached the United Kingdom, where Public Health England has added it to variants under investigation. The variant is concerning due to its notable mutations, including L452Q and F490S.
According to UK health officials, there is no evidence currently that the variant causes more severe diseases or renders the vaccines ineffective.
At fragile moments like this, when so many new variants are emerging it is our responsibility and duty to stay vigilant. Although due to fall in the number of daily cases, border restrictions have been lifted and states have begun their unlock process, and it makes taking necessary precautionary measures an important point. Double masking is still very important and people should continue to practice hygiene.
