Coronavirus: India reports over 40 cases of Delta plus variant
Coronavirus India: As many as 40 cases of the Delta plus variant, classified as a variant of concern (VOC), have been found in Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
The Delta variant along with Delta sub-lineages, including Delta plus, have been classified as a variant of concern, it stated.
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"As of now, among the samples sequenced (45000+) in India, Delta plus variant -- AY.1 -- has been observed sporadically in Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, with around 40 cases identified so far and no significant increase in prevalence," the health ministry said in its statement.
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Maharashtra, Kerala, and Madhya Pradesh have been asked to strengthen surveillance and take appropriate public health measures.
Soon after the Public Health England (PHE) reported of AY.1 on June 11, a retrospective analysis of samples revealed the first occurrence of this lineage from a sample collected from Maharashtra. It is pertinent to mention that the sample was collected on April 5.
As of Friday, June 18, 205 sequences of AY.1 lineage were found worldwide. The US and the UK are having over half of the known cases, it said.
Recently, INSACOG identified a viral variant (delta, B.1.617.2) which has also been seen in nine other countries of the world.
-PTC News
