To examine the potency of the “Delta Plus” variant of Covid-19 in patients and the efficacy of vaccines on it, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV) will soon conduct a study in this regard.
This comes after the Union Government found Delta Plus cases in Maharashtra (Ratnagiri and Jalgaon) Kerala (Palakkad and Pathanamthitta), Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal and Shivpuri) and also in Karnataka.
“The newly emerged Delta Plus variant has possible increased transmissibility, higher binding capacity to the lung cells and resistance to monoclonal antibody treatment.
"Looking at this scenario, Delta Plus variant could be a concern, and a high watch should be undertaken and containment of affected zone should be done reduce the transmission," Dr Pragya Yadav, head of the NIV’s Maximum Containment Facility, said.
“As per earlier data concerning Delta variant, neutralization was happening with the existing vaccines in India. Though neutralization has dropped, it’s enough to protect against Delta variant. Delta Plus should also behave (in a similar manner). We are working in this direction. We have isolated this variant and we are going to conduct a study soon,” according to a report.
Meanwhile, Dr Samiran Panda, an ICMR scientist, said the research body is also closely monitoring neutralisation capabilities of antibodies drawn from vaccine recipients. He said results of the investigations should be out in the next few weeks.
“We are examining (virus) samples drawn from various locations to see if they get neutralised by serum from Covid-19 vaccine recipients,” he said.
The scientist added that states should implement strict containment around infection clusters involving Delta-plus, continue to quarantine contacts and improve the pace of vaccination in regions reporting the variant.
Twenty-one cases of the ‘Delta plus’ variant of Covid-19, considered highly infectious, have been reported in Maharashtra threatening to massively dent the state’s fight against the virus as experts warn that this variant may trigger a third wave of the pandemic in the state.
Kerala, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh, too, have reported cases of this deadlier variety. And even though, only about 200 confirmed infections have been detected across the globe, of which 44 are in India, fears remain that the virus mutant may wreak havoc in the near future.
Union Health Ministry on Tuesday advised Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh on Delta plus variant of Covid-19 after a significant number of cases were reported from these states.