COVID-19 third wave inevitable, could strike India in 6 to 8 weeks, says AIIMS chief

people are not following social distancing.
govt is not speeding up vaccination.
worst is yet to come ?

Bihar seems to have had 75000 deaths in second wave, almost 10x of what officially reported
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bihar-saw-nearl...

I can only imagine what India’s actual numbers would be, may be around 3 million to 4 million? But we never learn!

Still the same stupidity of not wearing masks, not following social distancing and the same stupidity of mountains calling and beaches calling.

mere yha to log bna mask ke khulla ghum rhe h ,, no social distancing nothing
kya hoga ab

😨

lol,
ye log banate rahengay, aur tum log bante rahogay
PLease wake up

Get vaccinated!

Boycott your neighbours who don’t follow Covid protocol,
I know this is harsh but this is what we should do.

Covid Delta Variant Found For First Time In 2 North-East States

The Delta variant of coronavirus has been detected for the first time in two states in the north-east – Manipur and Mizoram, sources have said.

After testing 20 samples from Manipur in a laboratory in Hyderabad, 18 were found to be of Delta variant, sources said.

Mizoram reported four cases of the highly infectious variant, also known as B.1.617.2. The Delta variant has been detected in four COVID-19 patients in Aizawl district. Their samples were sent along with others to the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics in West Bengal.

21 cases of Delta plus variant detected in Maharashtra

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that 21 cases of Delta plus variant of COVID-19 have been detected in the state. “Delta plus variant of coronavirus has been detected in 21 people in Maharashtra,” Tope was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Tope further said that of these 21 cases, Ratnagiri has nine cases of the Delta variant, followed by Jalgaon – seven, Mumbai – two and one each in Palghar, Sindhudurg and Thane. “We are ascertaining their vaccination status and travel history,” Tope further said.

Delta plus variant could trigger the third wave in Maharashtra: Health Department

“The Delta plus variant could stoke the third wave in Maharashtra. It could spread at double the rate,” an official had said during the presentation to Maharashtra CM last week. Earlier, scientists warned that the ‘highly transmissible Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 has mutated further to form the Delta plus or AY.1 variant’.

What was he doing when our self proclaimed scientist modiji announced in February that he had beaten covid without vaccine

Four states register cases of Delta plus variant, says report

Maharashtra has reported 21 cases of the new Delta plus variant, Kerala – 3, Madhya Pradesh – 5, and Karnataka – 2.

Three states have reported cases of the ‘Delta plus’ variant of COVID-19, considered highly infectious. Many renowned scientists believe that the newly identified ‘Delta plus’ variant may trigger a third wave of the pandemic in the country.

The new variant has been formed due to a mutation in the Delta or B.1.617.2 variant, one of the drivers of the second wave. Though there is no indication yet of the severity of the disease due to the new variant, Delta plus is resistant to the monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment for COVID-19 recently authorised in India.

Kerala

At least three cases of SARS-CoV-2 Delta-plus variant have been found in samples collected from two districts — Palakkad and Pathanamthitta, officials said.

Pathanamthitta district collector Dr Narasimhugari TL Reddy said a four-year-old boy from Kadapra panchayat in the district was found infected with the new variant.

The new variant was discovered in a genetic study of the boy’s samples conducted at CSIR-IGIB (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi). The authorities have taken stringent measures in the affected areas of two districts to prevent its spread, officials said.

Madhya Pradesh

Five cases of the Delta plus variant have been reported in the state. There has been one fatality due to the new variant.

“So far, five cases of the Delta Plus variant have been reported in Madhya Pradesh. Four out of five people who got the vaccine are healthy. One has died,” said state Health Minister Prabhuram Choudhary.

Maharashtra

Twenty-one cases of the ‘Delta plus’ variant of COVID-19 have been found in Maharashtra, said state Health Minister Rajesh Tope.

Nine cases, the highest, were reported in Ratnagiri, followed by seven in Jalgaon, two in Mumbai, and one case each in Palghar, Thane and Sindhudurg districts, Tope said.

Tope said complete information about the people detected with the ‘Delta plus’ variant is being sought, including their travel history, whether they were vaccinated or not, and if they were reinfected.

Karnataka

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar said on Tuesday that two cases of the Delta Plus variant have been detected in the state.

“Both are mild cases with little to no change in the treatment. Nothing to worry about. We have eight genomic labs coming for sequencing in the next 30 days. Five percent of samples will be sent there,” the minister said.

Vaccines losing effect on Delta variant of coronavirus, says WHO official

Existing COVID-19 vaccines are showing reduced signs of efficacy against the Delta variant of coronavirus, which was first identified in India, Hindustan Times reported citing a World Health Organization (WHO) epidemiologist. However, the jabs are still found to be effective at preventing severe illness and deaths, it said.

B.1.617.2 Delta variant is becoming the dominant variant globally because of its significantly increased transmissibility, WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said. It was first detected in India around October 2020.

“The whole situation is so dynamic because of the variants that are now circulating and…the Delta variant is well on its way to becoming the dominant variant globally because of its significantly increased transmissibility,” Swaminathan said responding to a question at a press briefing in Geneva on the day.

“The whole situation is so dynamic because of the variants that are now circulating and…the Delta variant is well on its way to becoming the dominant variant globally because of its significantly increased transmissibility,” Swaminathan said responding to a question at a press briefing in Geneva on the day.

Delta Plus is now a variant of concern in India

The Delta Plus variant of the virus causing Covid-19 has now been classified as ‘variant of concern’ in India. It is a mutated form of the Delta variant. Previously, the ministry had said Delta Plus was only a ‘variant of interest’

The central government has declared the ‘Delta Plus’ variant of the virus causing Covid-19 as a ‘variant of concern’ in India.

In a press statement on the rising number of Delta Plus cases in the country, the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday said Delta Plus is “currently a variant of concern”.

Previously, the ministry had said Delta Plus was only a ‘variant of interest’.

Experts, however, have warned that the Delta Plus or AY.01 variant, which is a mutated form of the Delta variant, may unleash a third wave in the coming months, as it could possibly circumvent the body’s immune system.

It said INSACOG has informed that the Delta Plus variant, currently a Variant of Concern (VOC), has the following characteristics:

• Increased transmissibility
• Stronger binding to receptors of lung cells
• Potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response

All the governments can not beat a small virus how can they fight with Aliens ?

Delta Plus Variant EXPLAINED: What is it & Why it May Trigger a Third Covid Wave in India

Covid’s Delta plus variant has been detected in nine countries, including UK, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Japan, Nepal, China, and Russia, apart from India.

Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu have reported cases of this deadlier variety. And even though, only about 200 confirmed infections have been detected across the globe, of which over 40 are in India, fears remain that the virus mutant may wreak havoc in the near future.

Everything we know:

• The new Delta plus variant has been formed due to a mutation in the Delta or B.1.617.2 variant, first identified in India and one of the drivers of the deadly second wave.

• It has been detected in nine countries, inclduing UK, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Japan, Nepal, China, and Russia, apart from India.

• Maharashtra has reported 21 cases of the new Delta plus variant, 6 in Madhya Pradesh, 3 in Kerala, 3 in Tamil Nadu, 2 in Karnataka and one each in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu,

What is Delta Plus?

As India was hit by the second wave of Covid-19 hit earlier this year, experts partly blamed it on a triple mutant of the novel coronavirus of B.1.617.2 lineage, detected in India at the end of last year. The World Health Organization (WTO) named it Delta on May 31.

Later, the highly transmissible variant of Sars-CoV-2 mutated further into Delta Plus of AY.1 lineage. Scientists added that there is no immediate cause for concern as its incidence in the country is still low.

The new strain Delta Plus contains a K417N mutation in its spike protein, which has been formally designated B.1.617.2.1. According to media reports, the first sequence of this type was discovered in Europe in March 2021.

The National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) is now studying the Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg specimens from Maharashtra to determine the presence of the Delta Plus variation. These two regions specifically have the highest proportion of active infections in India.

Symptoms

The newest variant is still being studied and scientists are trying to pinpoint key differences between symptoms caused by Covid-19 and the Delta plus mutant.

Preliminary studies seem to suggest that apart from the usual dry cough, fever, tiredness, aches and pains, skin rashes, toes and fingers discoloration, sore throat, conjunctivitis, loss of taste and smell loss, diarrhea, and headache, chest pain, breathlessness, shortness of breath, and speech loss,

Delta plus patients also exhibited stomach ache, nausea, appetite loss, vomiting, joint pains, hearing impairment, etc

Resistant to monoclonal antibodies?

Experts are currently attempting to figure out how this novel variation affects illness development and if it causes severe Covid-19 infection.

However, preliminary findings suggest that this novel variation may be resistant to monoclonal antibody cocktail treatments for COVID-19.

The therapy, which was recently approved in India, consists of a combination of two drugs: casirivimab and imdevimab.

Another potential concern that is still being researched by medical experts is that the new variant may be able to bypass the immunity provided by both vaccines and prior Covid-19 infections.

Do vaccines work?

Scientists are yet to test the effectiveness of vaccines on the Delta Plus variant but Dr Scott Gottlieb, the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was quoted as cnbc.com as saying that vaccines do seem to be effective.

“The mRNA vaccine seems to be highly effective, about 88 percent against the Delta variant. The viral vector vaccines from Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca also appear to be about 60 percent effective," he said. The vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech use mRNA technology.

According to research, the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines were found to be only 33 percent effective three weeks after the first dose against symptomatic cases of the Delta variant, compared to 50 percent effective for the Alpha variant.

Bharat Biotech also said that Covaxin “demonstrates protective response" against the Delta and Beta variants. A study by the National Institute of Virology in Pune, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and Bharat Biotech has confirmed this.

However, a study by AIIMS the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on a small group of 63 people suggested that neither Covishield nor Covaxin were effective against the variant.

Should India worry?

Health experts have warned that the Delta Plus or AY.01 variant may unleash a third wave in the coming months, as it could possibly circumvent the body’s immune system.

The prevalence of this new variant is still low in India, data shows., but Delta still remains the dominant variant in the country as of now.

However, there is no certainty and the current low number is no indication of any trend. As trends go, the Delta variant too had been detected in extremely low numbers at the beginning of the second surge in India that claimed countless lives and reaching epic transmissibility levels in a short span of two and a half months.

Over 40 Cases Of Delta Plus, “Variant Of Concern”, In 8 States: Sources

There are over 40 cases in the country of the new Delta Plus strain, which has been tagged as a “Variant of Concern” by the government, according to sources.

There are 21 cases in Maharashtra, ,6 in Madhya Pradesh, 3 in Kerala, 3 in Tamil Nadu, 2 in Karnataka and one each in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu, according to sources.

https://www.desidime.com/discussions/covid-19-t...

Bada tejasvee scientist hai

Delta Plus variant transmissible even in fleeting encounter with Covid patient

The new Delta Plus variant of the coronavirus is extremely transmissible, and even walking next to a Covid-19 patient who is a carrier of this variant without a mask may lead to the spread of infection, AIIMs director Randeep Guleria told.

Though following Covid-appropriate behavior will help to a great extent against the new variant, the government is concerned about the immune escape mechanism of the Delta Plus variant and its resistance to monoclonal antibodies.

“This is being studied by INSACOG, a network of labs undertaking genomic sequencing in India and we will know if vaccines are effective against this variant or not,” Guleria said.

Madhya Pradesh: First death from Delta-Plus Covid-19 variant

Madhya Pradesh Wednesday reported its first death of a patient identified with the Delta plus variant of Covid-19 in Ujjain district.

Five confirmed cases of Delta-Plus variant has so been reported in the state — three from Bhopal and two others from Ujjain district.

Delta-Plus has been declared a variant of concern by the Union government.

Praying for better time for everyone!

ICMR studying vaccine effect on Delta plus, result likely soon

Experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research are currently examining how effective vaccines available in the country are against the Delta-plus variant of SARS-CoV-2.

Dr Samiran Panda, an ICMR scientist, said the research body is closely monitoring neutralisation capabilities of antibodies drawn from vaccine recipients. He said results of the investigations should be out in the next few weeks.

“We are examining (virus) samples drawn from various locations to see if they get neutralised by serum from Covid-19 vaccine recipients,” he said.

He added that states should implement strict containment around infection clusters involving Delta-plus, continue to quarantine contacts and improve the pace of vaccination in regions reporting the variant.

Virologist Dr T Jacob John said so far all “variants of concern” are being neutralised by antibodies generated in response to the “founder variant” that caused the first wave of Covid infections.

Essentially, he said, vaccines made using the early variants are still successful. “So, it can be said immunity produced by all the vaccines can protect against Delta-plus,” he added.

“We must avoid the blunder we made with Delta, which was detected in December last year and not followed up until it came as the second wave. We are calling them variants, and not strains. So all vaccines should offer some protection,” he said.

Delta Variant Bypassed Immunity, Triggered Repeat Infections: Study

Delta grew to become the dominant variant in India due to its improved ability to jump to new hosts and by wiping resisting the large parts of population immunity in people from the first wave of Covid-19, a new study has suggested.

The findings show the unique set of mutations which make the virus more infective, leading to higher viral load in people and causing larger outbreak clusters

Don’t know what will happen, on one side delta plus , if recovered from covid, then on another side that fungus playing holi .. now her favourite color is green ….

Odisha, Rajasthan Report First Cases of Delta Plus Variant – Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh Repors Second Death

• The first case of delta plus has been reported in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

• A case of the Delta plus variant has been detected in Odisha.

• Maharashtra Reports 2nd Death from Delta Plus Variant – 80-yr-old Ratnagiri Local Passes Away.

• Delta Plus variant of Coronavirus have been confirmed in Madhya Pradesh, two of the patients have died.

Fully vaccinated and COVID recovered, yet Rajasthan woman tests positive for Delta plus variant

While the 65-year-old woman is now healthy, as per government officials, the first case of Delta plus variant in Rajasthan has left experts worried

In the first case of Delta-plus case in Rajasthan, a 65-year-old woman, who recovered from COVID-19 in May and had undergone both doses of vaccination, has tested positive with the variant. However, the woman is healthy, confirmed government officials.

With this, Rajasthan joined the list of states in the country to register the new virus strain. According to Bikaner’s PBM Hospital Superintendent Parmendra Sirohi, “The patient’s sample was sent to NIV on May 31 and after 25 days, the state government received the reports which were then sent to Bikaner district collector for further action.”

Bikaner CMHO O.P. Chahar said, “Special instructions have been issued for tracing in and around the residence of the woman. All those people who tested positive in the area in last one month will be tested again,” he added.

Haryana – 1st Delta plus variant reported in Faridabad

Govt is prepared. Regarding the first case (of Delta Plus variant) reported in Faridabad, we have given orders that 100% of the contacts of the person be tested and genome sequencing be done: Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij.

Chandigarh reports first case of Delta plus Covid-19 variant

The first case of the Delta plus Covid variant and 33 cases of the Delta variant have been reported in Chandigarh.

As per a statement from the Chandigarh administration, 50 random samples of Chandigarh residents from May and June were sent to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) lab on June 6 for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).

Delta plus has more affinity for lung tissues: Govt expert panel head

With cases of Delta plus variant on the rise in multiple Indian states, the head of the government’s Covid working group has said that the new strain has greater affinity for lung tissues.

In an interview to PTI, National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) chairman Dr N K Arora said that compared to other strains, Delta plus has greater affinity to mucosal lining in the lungs.

“But if it causes damage or not is not clear yet. It also does not mean that this variant will cause more severe disease or it is more transmissible,” Arora said.

Dr Arora said the impact of the Delta plus strain will become clear only as more cases are identified.

“It appears that the disease is generally mild in all those who have got either single or double dose of the vaccine,” he added.

He also stressed on the need to keep a very close watch and look at the spread of the variant.

Arora said the number of cases identified of Delta plus variant may be more as there may be many asymptomatic individuals also — those who do not have any Covid-19 symptoms but they are carrying the virus and spreading it.

Not just Delta Plus, 3 other variants of coronavirus pose threat

The coronavirus, since its outbreak last year, has undergone several mutations. And some of them are extremely harmful. Here is a list of those variants which has caused Covid-19 to spread more rapidly.

The current cause of concern in India and across the world is the Delta Plus variant of coronavirus. The highly transmissible variant is also believed to be impervious to some vaccines and therapies, concerning the experts.

Delta Plus is a mutated form of the Delta variant, first found in India in December, 2020. So far, it has been detected in 12 states, according to the government.

But apart from this, there are other variants too which have the potential – though not as pronounced as Delta Plus – to infect the people and bring the economy back to a grinding halt.

According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the prominent variants of that coronavirus are: Alpha, Beta and Delta.

The B.1.1.7, or the Alpha variant, was first detected in the United States in December, 2020, the CDC said. The source of the variant has been traced to the United Kingdom, according to CDC. Next is B.1.351 or Beta variant of coronavirus. It started from South Africa in December last year and reached the United States in January.

The Delta or B.1.617.2 variant, which was first identified in India, is believed to be more virulent than the others and os wreaking havoc in South Africa. It spreads more quickly than the other variants, leading to more cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The Delta Plus is a mutated, and thus more dangerous, form of the Delta variant, due to which the Indian government has already declared it as a ‘variant of concern.’

According to World Health Organization (WHO), the more a virus circulates in a population causing infection, the likelihood of the virus mutating increases. The more it spreads, the more it replicates – and has more opportunities to undergo changes known as mutation – the WHO added.

Sputnik V shot around 90% effective against Delta variant – RIA

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is around 90% effective against the Delta variant of coronavirus, the RIA news agency cited Denis Logunov, deputy director of the Gamaleya Institute that developed the vaccine, as saying on Tuesday.

The shot was previously found by the researchers to be almost 92% effective against the original strain of coronavirus. Logunov said the Delta variant efficacy figure was calculated based on information from digital medical records and on vaccination records. (Reuters)