'Transmission potential of Delta Plus variant seems low, needs more research'

New Delhi, June 27 The nature of subsequent Covid-19 outbreaks will depend on the new variants of the virus as one more strain called Delta Plus has emerged in a few states, said N.K. Arora, a member of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Briefing about the Delta Plus variant, Arora told IANS that it has emerged in several parts of the country and around 52 cases have been reported, including one in Faridabad. He, however, added that there was still very little knowledge about this new strain.

"One more thing which is very clear about the Delta Plus variant is that its is very strong and it clings to the lungs. But it does not mean that transmission potential is very high."

Arora told IANS that the first case of Delta Plus variant was detected in April this year and the research studies conducted on the strain so far has not suggested much on its effectiveness and level of transmission.

"We need conduct more research to have more concrete results to augment our medical system for such patients. We have to understand that the emergence of new variants are not new things, variants will come with subsequent waves. What is more important to understand is the nature of the new variant, because its nature (transmission, effectiveness, etc) decides the overall situation of the Covid pandemic," he said.

According to the Union Health Ministry's report, cases of Delta Plus variant were detected in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

Elaborating further on Delta Plus, he said there are three parameters to check the effectiveness of a new variant -- level of transmission; how will it affect the pandemic; and how it will respond to vaccines.

Arora said that each of the Covid-19 variants detected so far have been highly transmissible; however, effectiveness was very low.