The Delta Plus variant has already started wrecking havoc in many countries. If not controlled, doctors tell MUSBA HASHMI it can trigger the third wave much before than we have predicted
COVID-19 is dropping a bombshell every once in a while, sometimes with the sudden spike in cases, while the other with its variants. Once again, what proves to be a tough challenge for the experts is the Delta Plus variant.
This has led to doctors and experts predicting that the latest variant could possibly trigger a third wave of the pandemic.
“The Delta Plus variant is a variant of concern that has been recently declared by the Government. It has already been identified and isolated in nine countries and 22 cases have already been seen in India, especially in Maharashtra, which is already bracing for a third wave. It looks like the third wave will hit Maharashtra in the next six to eight weeks,” Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Internal Medicine (Founder-Director), Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, tells you.
He adds that like the last wave which was driven by the Delta variant, it is feared that the next wave will be driven by Delta Plus.
What makes the variant so concerning is the increased infection rate. “Delta Plus is much more infectious than the previous one. The other reason that makes it so concerning is it’s increased binding to lung cells, which may give rise to a more severe disease. And, the third is its potentially reduced response to monoclonal antibodies, which may interfere with the vaccine response as well as medicines like the monoclonal antibody cocktail,” Bajaj says.
This means that even the previously infected or vaccinated individuals may suffer from the disease.
“All these reasons suggest there is a definite risk that this new variant will be more widespread as well as more severe if it causes the third wave,” he adds.
Some symptoms of the variant resemble to the previous variants like cough, diarrhoea, fever, headache, skin rash, discolouration of fingers and toes, chest pain and shortness of breath. While, stomach ache, nausea and appetite loss can be some of the new signs of the disease.
“Delta plus variant has been instrumental in causing new wave of COVID pandemic in UK and parts of US. This is a variant of concern because of its high infectivity and can cause severe disease. There are concerns that it can bypass vaccine immunity a phenomena called immune escape. A country like India with big population size is always at a risk of having extensive effect. This strain is likely to cause third wave if it ever comes. It is therefore important that people need to follow COVID appropriate behaviour at all times,” opines Dr Arunesh Kumar, HOD, Paras Chest Institute & Senior Pulmonologist, Paras Hospital, Gurugram.
Dr Piyush Goel, Senior Consultant, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Columbia Asia Hospital, Palam Vihar, Gurugram, warns that the variant can possibly also pre-pone the onset of the third wave as predicted, because of the rising cases of this variant.
“There are high chances that the Delta Plus variant can give rise to a third wave much before than we have ever predicted. The efficacy of the available vaccines against this variant remain under the scanner because we don’t have proper studies to support it. But with the increase severity of the disease with this variant, the third wave can prove fatal. Needless to say that wearing masks and following other covid appropriate behaviour is paramount,” Kumar adds.
However, amid all this fear, there are people who have already started following COVID inappropriate behaviour. Be it travelling without a reason or giving up the use of mask, things seem to be back on square one. “The situation calls for proper measures and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. People, as we all can see, have again become complacent. They should know that travelling unnecessarily can fast forward the spread of this variant. This means that we have to follow all the precautions like we did during the second wave. Only then, we will be able to sail through the third wave,” says Goel.