According to recent reports the Delta plus variant, which has been notified as a “variant of concern” that is also said to be the most transmissible variant, is more vulnerable to lung tissues as compared to other strains. Dr NK Arora, Chairman of COVID-19 working group under National Technical Advisory Group Immunization (NTAGI) said, this however, doesn’t mean that it will cause serious disease or is more more transmissible.
“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 PTI
“We need to keep a very close watch and look at its spread so that it will give us transmission efficiency,” 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 jab of the vaccine, he said.
As there may be many asymptomatic individuals also than those who do not have any Covid-19 symptoms but they are carrying the virus and spreading it, hence, Delta plus variant may be more.
“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.
On asked 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.
“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.
“Secondly, another thing that is important is vaccination — the rapidity with which we vaccinate…even single dose is effective and the way we are planning, if we rapidly immunise then possibility of third wave becomes very less because vaccine plus infection plus Covid appropriate behaviour will save us from next wave, mitigate the next wave and the third wave will not be able to cause the damage as was caused in the first two waves,” he added.
Dr. Umesh Khanna, MD, DNB Director, Kidney Associates told Healthwire, “There is not much data yet available to say that Delta plus virus is any more dangerous than the delta virus. It is too premature to warn of a 3rd wave due to delta plus virus. One needs to be on guard, do more genome sequencing and wait for scientific data to emerge There is a fear that it has more affinity to lung tissue and that the new antibody cocktail is less effective, but we do not have adequate data to support the claim. One has to be on guard.”