Covid-19: 40 cases of Delta Plus variant reported from 3 Indian states
Nearly 40 cases of "Delta Plus" variant of Covid-19 have been reported from three Indian states, prompting the federal health ministry to ask them to step up surveillance and containment measures.
"As of now, among the samples sequenced in India, 'Delta Plus' has been observed in Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh with around 40 cases identified so far and no significant increase in prevalence," Indian health Ministry statement said, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
The ministry, which has termed "Delta Plus" as a "variant of concern," has advised Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh that public health response measures have to be more focused and effective.
The states have been advised to take up immediate containment measures in the districts and clusters including preventing crowds and intermingling of people, widespread testing, prompt tracing as well as vaccine coverage on a priority basis.
What is 'Delta Plus'?
According to Reuters the variant, called "Delta Plus" in India, was first reported in a Public Health England bulletin on June 11.
It is a sub-lineage of the Delta variant first detected in India and has acquired the spike protein mutation called K417N which is also found in the Beta variant first identified in South Africa.
Some scientists worry that the mutation, coupled with other existing features of the Delta variant, could make it more transmissible.
"The mutation K417N has been of interest as it is present in the Beta variant (B.1.351 lineage), which was reported to have immune evasion property," India's health ministry said in a statement.
Shahid Jameel, a top Indian virologist, said the K417N was known to reduce the effectiveness of a cocktail of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.
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