Can Coronavirus Delta Plus variant cause THIRD WAVE of COVID-19 pandemic in India? How EFFECTIVE are Covaxin and Covishield against this variant? Check what experts have to say

COVID-19 India Delta Plus Variant: The Delta Plus variant has been labelled by the Centre as variant of concern (VOC). Now, there are concerns among the people whether this variant can lead to the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country and how effective the existing vaccines are going to be against this new variant. However, according to experts, it is too early to say whether the new mutant version of the Delta strain of COVID-19 virus will be responsible for a third wave as the third wave depend on several other factors as well.

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Can Delta Plus variant cause third wave?

News agency ANI quoted Dr Sumit Aggarwal, Scientist and Program Officer, Division of Epidemiology and Communicable disease, Indian Council of Medical Research, as saying, "Still there is no concern now for the third wave and its too early to predict the third wave, third wave depends on many other factors."

A statement issued by the Union Health Ministry on June 23, 2021, said, "The Delta Plus variant has been observed sporadically in Maharashtra, Kerala & MP with around 40 cases identified so far. These States have been advised for strengthening surveillance & public health measures."

What is the Delta Plus variant?

As per a statement from the Union Ministry of Health, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG) has reported the evolution of Delta plus variant (B.1.617.2) + K417N lineage of SARS-CoV2 called as B.1.617.2.1/ AY.1. The Delta plus variant B.1.617.2.1/ (AY.1) is characterised by the K417N mutation in spike protein. The spik e protein aids the virus to gain receptor-mediated entry into human cells.

Dr, Aggarwal said, "It's a normal tendency of every mRNA virus that mutation will happen. These mutations are inevitable, we cannot control the mutation. So, as the time progresses, we will proceed further. So, there will be a variation. Initially, there was alpha, then delta and now delta plus."

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhusan has written to the chief secretaries of Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra, requesting them to take up immediate containment measures in the districts where Delta Plus variant has been detected. In his letter, he has highlighted the characteristics of this VOC as intimated by INSACOG. The characteristics are as follows - increased transmissibility, stronger building to receptors of lung cells and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response.

Will the existing COVID-19 vaccines be effective against the Delta Plus variant?

Now, as per an ANI report, following the detection of the Delta Plus variant, ICMR and National Institute of Virology (NIV) have decided to conduct a study to see if the new and the more potent variants of COVID-19 can be neutralised by the existing vaccines in India. The study is likely to involve Covishield and Covaxin COVID-19 vaccines.

ANI quoted Dr Pragya Yadav, Head of NIV's Maximum Containment Facility as saying, "As per earlier data concerning Delta variant, neutralisation was happening with the existing vaccines in India. Though neutralisation has dropped, it's enough to protect against Delta variant. " She further added that the Delta Plus variant should also behave in a similar manner and they are working on that direction. They have isolated the variant and going to conduct a study soon.