Should we worry about the Delta Plus variant?

A Delta subtype of the coronavirus, Covid's most transmissible mutation, is under investigation. At the moment, one letter of the Greek alphabet has not been assigned to this sub-variant, which is a good sign at the moment.

What is the Delta Plus variant?

The variant, known by the scientific name AY.4.2, is a subvariant of the Delta variant, known as B.1.617.2 and first identified in India last October. Delta is the dominant species globally. The subtype has new mutations in the "spike" protein, which helps the virus invade the body's cells.

Is it a more dangerous version of the virus?

There is no evidence to suggest that it causes more serious illness or mortality than the Delta variant or that it could escape the protection offered by Covid-19 vaccines, but scientists think it may be more contagious, helped the virus to spread more easily.

How "more transmissible"?

Two scientists - Jeffrey Barrett, director of the Covid-19 Genomics Initiative at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, and Francois Balloux, director of the Institute of Genetics at University College London - have said it appears to be 10 to 15% more transmissible than the variant. original Delta. Early evidence suggests it has increased the rate of infections in the UK.

How does this compare to past variants?

The Delta variant was 60% more transmissible than the Alpha variant first identified in the UK in the second half of 2020 which caused the third and worst wave of pandemic in Ireland. Alpha itself was 50% more transmissible than the original virus that spread from China.

Are scientists worried?

Agjencia e Sigurisë Shëndetësore e Mbretërisë së Bashkuar e ka zhvendosur variantin Delta Plus në kategorinë "variant nën hetim", por ai ende nuk konsiderohet si një "variant shqetësues", kategoria më e lartë e rrezikut për variantet, gjë që do të bënte që Delta Plus të emërtohej sipas alfabetit grek. Shkencëtarët janë ende duke kontrolluar provat për të kuptuar nëse mund të jetë një shkak shqetësimi. Viruset evoluojnë natyrshëm dhe AY.4.2 është një nga 45 "nën-linjat" që vijnë nga varianti Delta.