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

The scientists, though, said it is yet to be established if this delta derivative is a matter of concern.

Representative Image

New Delhi: 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.

The scientists, though, said it is yet to be established if this delta derivative is a matter of concern.

READ: India's Decision To Resume Covid Vaccine Export Can Have 'Positive Global Impact': GAVI

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.

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.

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.

The latest genomic sequencing series completed in the lab last week, also showed the presence of many “Delta derivatives”.

A civic source said “Delta and its derivatives, which were previously called Delta Plus, are not considered to be separate entities yet”.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) team, as per the report, is in the process of correlating the Delta reports with patients’ medical reports to understand “if and how the variants have changed Covid’s symptoms and severity”.

“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,” the report quoted a doctor as saying.