Delta Plus Variant AY.4 On Surge, Found In 44% Maharashtra Samples In August

<p><strong>New Delhi: </strong>The cases of AY.4, one of the derivatives or sub-lineages, of the Covid-19 delta variant are on the surge in India, particularly in Maharashtra, according to the scientists.</p> <p>The scientists, though, said it is yet to be established if this delta derivative is a matter of concern.</p> <p><strong>READ</strong>:<strong><a href="https://ift.tt/2Z8hu5u"> India's Decision To Resume Covid Vaccine Export Can Have 'Positive Global Impact': GAVI</a></strong></p> <p>AY.4 was found in 1% of the samples tested from Maharashtra in April as part of the Indian Covid-19 Genome Surveillance. Its proportion increased to 2% in July and 44% in August, The Times of India said in its report.</p> <p>The report added that the Delta (B.1.617.2) was found in 111 (36%) of the 308 samples analysed from August, adding AY.4 was found in 137 samples (44%) of these.</p> <p>Delta and Delta sub-lineages continued to be the main variants of concern globally, according to surveillance report, while AY.4 is the main global sub-lineage.</p> <p>The latest genomic sequencing series completed in the lab last week, also showed the presence of many &ldquo;Delta derivatives&rdquo;.</p> <p>A civic source said &ldquo;Delta and its derivatives, which were previously called Delta Plus, are not considered to be separate entities yet&rdquo;.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ</strong>: <strong><a href="https://ift.tt/3nP2RhT Likely To Receive First Doses Of J&amp;J Covid Vaccine In October: Reports</a></strong></p> <p>The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) team, as per the report, is in the process of correlating the Delta reports with patients&rsquo; medical reports to understand &ldquo;if and how the variants have changed Covid&rsquo;s symptoms and severity&rdquo;.</p> <p>&ldquo;A variant becomes a matter of concern only if we can establish it has increased transmissibility, causes severe infection and/or it can cause breakthrough infection,&rdquo; the report quoted a doctor as saying.</p>

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