With so many variants popping up around the world, what do we know about each one of them?
What’s Happening?
- Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has said that the Delta Plus, and AY.2 are unlikely to be more transmissible than the Delta variant. It said that these two sub-lineages are also below 1% in the genome samples sequenced in the country in June.
- Also, PTI reported quoting state health minister Raghu Sharma, 11 cases of the Kappa COVID-19 variant have been detected in Rajasthan, writes, Hindustan Times.
New Variants
There have been so many new variants around the globe now but what do we know about them? According to the World Health Organisation, the Kappa Variant is the only other COVID-19 variant that was first identified in India. However, it is not a new variant. The Kappa variant was first identified in India in October 2020. WHO has classified it as a variant of interest.
The Lambda variant was first identified in Peru in December 2020 and it has been detected in more than 30 countries. This variant is designated as a Variant of Interest by the WHO on June 14. The Times reported that preliminary studies showed that while antibodies induced by Pfizer, Moderna and CoronaVac were less powerful against lambda than the original strain, they still “neutralize” the virus and are expected to be effective against lambda.
The Epsilon variant was first detected in California in 2020 and reported in at least 34 other countries. Researchers have found that the mutations reduce the effectiveness of antibodies from the plasma of vaccinated people. According to a study, as mentioned in The Times of India, “The mutations give this coronavirus variant of concern a means to totally evade specific monoclonal antibodies used in clinics and reduces the effectiveness of antibodies from the plasma of vaccinated people.”
What Can We Do Now?
Every day, the world is seeing more COVID-19 cases, and the news of more variants continues to worry us. But the thing that we need to remember is that if the existing vaccines prove to be less effective against one or more variants, their composition can be modified accordingly to protect against the emerging variants. So, vaccines can help us against these variants.
Also, we need to be extra cautious now more than ever, and understand that it is important to follow the safety guidelines and get vaccinated when it is our turn. The other thing is that just because we have been vaccinated, doesn’t mean that we should get careless. Let’s try our best to stay home and do our part in controlling the pandemic.
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