Delta caused 82% Covid cases in 3 mths: Data

Nearly 8 of every 10 (82%) of Covid-19 infections in the past three months (May, June and July) were caused by the highly infectious Delta variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus, according to data from the Indian Sars-cov-2 Genomic Consortium or INSACOG dashboard -- highlighting that most cases in India are now being caused by this variant of concern which is also behind the recent surge of cases in the US.

In March, the Alpha variant was the dominant strain of the virus; but in the past three months, only 0.54% of the cases were of this variant. To be sure, this data pertains to infections where the viral genome was sequenced. This samdra

NEW DELHI:

pling can be considered to be representative, though.

Over all, nearly two in three Covid-19 infections in the country so far have been caused by mutated variants, according to data from INSACOG. The consortium of 28 laboratories across the country sequenced 46,124 samples till July 22, according to data provided by the minister for state of science and technology Dr JitenSingh on Friday. Of these, 26,957 or 58.4% were found to be either variants of concern or variants of interest. Of the total samples sequenced, 37.2% were of delta variant. In recent months, that proportion increased sharply.

“This is not unexpected because it is the fastest spreading virus and has replaced almost all other variants across the world. Almost 80% of the cases in Indonesia, US, UK at the moment are caused by the Delta variant...,” said Dr T Jacob John, former head of the department of virology at Christian Medical College-vellore.

The fact that the variant was behind India’s bruising second wave of infections may help the country now. “The Delta plus variant, which is essentially same as Delta, is unlikely to drive a surge in

India,” added Dr John.

Interestingly, the proportion of Delta, reduced in July with only 73% of the samples being of the variant. But this was not because the variant was being replaced.

“There were very few samples (in July, including) some that were not of good quality so it becomes difficult to assign lineage,” said Dr Anurag Agarwal, director, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, one of the 28 labs of INSACOG. The consortium has so far sequenced 70 samples of Delta plus variant, which is also considered to be variant of concern.

The highest number of Delta plus cases has been reported from Maharashtra, which accounts for 23 of the 70 cases. This was followed by Madhya Pradesh with 11, and Tamil Nadu with 10.

OF 46,124 SAMPLES SEQUENCED, 26,957 WERE FOUND TO BE EITHER VARIANTS OF CONCERN OR VARIANTS OF INTEREST