EXPLAINED | What Is Delta Variant Of Covid-19? Status In India & UK, Major Risk Associated & Precautions To Take

Corona Delta Variant: While the world continues to battle the coronavirus cases with waves of infection rising and subsiding, recently particular concern has been raised on the delta variant.

A study carried out by scientists of INSACOG (the consortium of labs undertaking genome sequencing in India) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has found that Delta variant is the primary cause of second Covid wave gripping the country.

“B.1.617 variant and its lineage B.1.617.2 were primarily responsible for surge in cases with high transmissibility of 50% more than Alpha variant (B.1.1.7),” as per study by INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genome Sequencing Consortia ) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

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What Is The Delta Variant?

The World Health Organisation on Monday named the B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2 variants of the Covid-19, first identified in India, as ‘Kappa’ and ‘Delta’ respectively.

The organization introduced new nomenclature for various variants of the coronavirus using Greek alphabets to simplify public discussions and also help remove stigma from the names.

The announcement came nearly three weeks after India objected to the B.1.617 mutant of Covid-19 being termed an “Indian Variant” in media reports with the Union Health Ministry pointing out that the UN’s top health organ has not used the word “Indian” for this strain in its document.

Both B.1.617.1 named as ‘Kappa’ and the B1.617.2 variant dubbed ‘Delta’ were first found in India.

The move aims to make the names of these variants easy to say and remember as it is stigmatising and discriminatory to call them by names of the nations they are first detected in.

“No country should be stigmatised for detecting and reporting variants. Globally, we need robust surveillance for variants, incl epi, molecular and sequencing to be carried out and shared. We need to continue to do all we can to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (sic),” Infectious Disease Epidemiologist and Covid-19 Technical Lead at the WHO Kerkhove wrote in a tweet.

The labels don’t replace existing scientific names, which convey (important) scientific info and will continue to be used in research. These labels will help with public discussion about VOC/VOI as the numbering system can be difficult to follow, she added.

Variant Of Concern

The World Health Organisation WHO clarified that only B.1.617.2, one of the three strains of the B.1.617 Covid-19 variant first detected in India, is a variant of concern now and noted that lower rates of transmission have been observed for the other two lineages.

The B.1.617 variant was first detected in India and was divided into three lineages – B.1.617.1, B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3.

It has become evident that greater public health risks are currently associated with B.1.617.2, while lower rates of transmission of other lineages have been observed, WHO said.

So as per the update, the B.1.617.2 labelled as Delta Variant remains a VOC. The B.1.617.1 strain dubbed as Kappa variant has been reclassified to a Variant of Interest (VOI).

While Kappa is also demonstrating increased transmissibility (in specified locations), global prevalence appears to be declining. This variant will continue to be monitored and reassessed regularly.

Dominant Strain In UK & Major Risk Reported

The Delta variant has now become the dominant VOC in the UK as infections rose by 5,472 in a week to hit a total of 12,431, health officials in Britain informed on Thursday.

Public Health England (PHE) said that experts now believe that Delta has now overtaken Alpha the VOC first detected in the Kent region of England.

Early evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of hospitalisation with Delta compared to Alpha, although more data is needed to form a definitive view on that, PHE added.

Precautions Advised

• Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive, UK Health Security Agency has said it remains vital that people continue to exercise as much caution as possible.
• The way to tackle variants is to tackle the transmission of Covid-19 as a whole. Work from home where you can, and practice hands, face, space, fresh air at all times, she added.
• She advised eligible population to get vaccinated as soon as possible and  “make sure you get your second jab. It will save lives”.
• Stressing on the point it was informed that 278 people in the UK infected with the Delta variant attended hospital in an emergency. Last week, 201 people were taken to a hospital. Once again, the majority of these had not been vaccinated, PHE said.

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