Researchers are diligently observing a new mutation of the Delta variant, named AY.4.2 found in India and Britain. Here is all you need to know about it.
As virus has capacity to mutate continuously to survive itself, new forms are unavoidable to appear. The AY.4.2 mutation of the Delta variant was original noticed in July 2021 and it has been declared as a “Variant Under Investigation (VUI)” (VUI-21OCT-01) in the UK.
As per the report of the BBC, AY.4.2 comprises mutations that might give the virus survival advantages. There has also been preliminary evidence that it spreads more quickly than the dominant Delta variant. so, it has been under closer scrutiny in recent days after the evidence. “More evidence is needed to know whether this is due to changes in the virus’ behavior or to epidemiological conditions,” UKHSA said.
The availability of attachment spike protein Y145H and A222V on the surface of AY.4.2 will help the virus enter human cells more easily and it will lead to more infectious than previous strain but how much more infectious is currently under research.
The AY.4.2 belongs to the same family of mutations that define the B.1.617.2, or Delta, variant of the novel coronavirus that was first identified in India in October last year. The new Delta variant fueled the second wave of cases in the country.
In India, ICMR scientist says that New Covid variant AY.4.2 seems to be highly transmissible but may not be fatal and “no need to create panic but everyone must step up Covid-appropriate behavior”.
Delta Variant AY.4.2: Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday stated that a government panel of experts was observing into the new variant of COVID.
India’s Covid genomic surveillance project is on high alert after cases of a sublineage of SARS CoV 2’s delta variant has been noticed in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The NCDC report said that the sub-lineage had caused the COVID surge in Indore district in September when the Covid-19 infections had jumped in August.
