Health Ministry releases FAQs on Delta, Delta Plus variants of COVID19 virus
The Delta Plus variant, which has been found to have the characteristics that makes it the most infectious amongst all other variants of COVID19, has been declared to be a ‘variant of concern’ by the health ministry.
Covishield and Covaxin are both effective against the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants.
In the wake of the incidence of the Delta and the Delta Plus variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in India, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the issue.
On June 23, the ministry had stated that the ‘Delta Plus’ variant or AY.1 strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus has been found in COVID19 positive samples collected from Kerala, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
The Delta Plus variant, which has been found to have the characteristics that makes it the most infectious amongst all other variants of COVID19, has been declared to be a ‘variant of concern’ by the ministry.
Explained: Delta Plus variant — how risky is it? Are COVID19 vaccines effective?
Here are some of the FAQs on Delta Plus variant released by the health ministry:
What is a mutation?
A sudden change in the genetic structure of an organism is known as a mutation. It happens as a random error while the cells or the organisms make copies of themselves (reproduce).
Why does a virus mutate?
Virus by its very nature mutates. It is part of its evolution. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a single-stranded RNA (ribo nucleic acid) virus. So, changes in the genetic sequence of the RNA are mutations. The moment a virus enters its host cell or a susceptible body, it starts replicating. When the spread of infection increases, the rate of replication also increases. A virus that has got a mutation in it is known as a variant.
What is the impact of mutations?
The normal process of mutations begins to impact us when it leads to changes in transmission levels or on treatment. Mutations of viruses can have positive, negative or neutral effects on human health.
Negative impacts include clustering of infections, increased transmissibility, ability to escape immunity and infect someone who has prior immunity, neutralization escape from monoclonal antibodies, improved binding to lung cells and increased severity of infection.
Positive impacts can be that the virus becomes non-viable.
Why are frequent mutations seen in SARS-CoV-2 virus? When will the mutations stop?
SARS-CoV-2 can mutate due to the following reasons:
- Random error during replication of virus
- Immune pressure faced by viruses after treatments such as convalescent plasma, vaccination or monoclonal antibodies (antibodies produced by a single clone of cells with identical antibody molecules)
- Uninterrupted transmission due to lack of COVID-appropriate behaviour. Here the virus finds excellent host to grow and becomes more fit and more transmissible.
The virus will continue to mutate as long as the pandemic remains. This makes it all the more crucial to follow COVID appropriate behavior.
What are Variants of Interest (VoI) and Variants of Concern (VoC)?
When the mutations happen – if there is any previous association with any other similar variant which is felt to have an impact on public health – then it becomes a Variant under Investigation.
Once genetic markers are identified which can have association with receptor binding domain or which have an implication on antibodies or neutralising assays, we start calling them as Variants of Interest.
Explained: What is ‘long COVID’ — how is vaccination expected to affect such patients?
The moment we get evidence for increased transmission through field-site and clinical correlations, it becomes a Variant of Concern. Variants of concern are those that have one or more of the following characteristics:
- Increased transmissibility
- Change in virulence/ disease presentation
- Evading the diagnostics, drugs and vaccines
Why public health action is not taken immediately after noticing mutations in virus?
It is not possible to say whether the mutations noticed will increase transmission. Also, until there is scientific evidence that proves a correlation between rising number of cases and variant proportion, we cannot confirm there is a surge in the particular variant. Once mutations are found, analysis is made week on week to find if there is any such correlation between the surge of cases and variant proportion. Public health action can be taken only after scientific proofs for such correlation are available.
Once such correlation is established, this will help greatly to prepare in advance when such variant is seen in another area/region.
Do Covishield and Covaxin work against the variants of SARS-CoV-2?
Yes, Covishield and Covaxin are both effective against the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants. Lab tests to check vaccine effectiveness on Delta Plus Variant are ongoing.
Delta Plus Variants: The virus has been isolated and is being cultured now at ICMR’s National Institute of Virology, Pune. Laboratory tests to check vaccine effectiveness are ongoing and the results will be available in seven to 10 days. This will be the first result in the world.