Nagpur: At least 17 samples of Delta strain’s subvariant ‘AY.4.2’ have been identified from India. According to reports, the earliest samples were collected in May this year.
According to the data by GISAID, Of the 17 found, seven samples were identified from Andhra Pradesh, four in Kerala, two each in Karnataka and Telangana and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and even Maharashtra. A total of 19,466 sequences were submitted to the GISAID from India.
The subvariant has been found in different parts globally, including the United Kingdom and Israel. The World Health organization (WHO) has not been categorised as a ‘variant of concern.’
There has been a significant rise in the cases found in the UK due to the AY.4.2 variant since September. According to the data on outbreak.info, the frequency of the cases increased to as high as 10 per cent over the past few weeks.
The data from the UK doesn’t show any increased risk of death or more severity of the disease due to the subvariant as compared to the Delta strain. As per a report the WHO will likely elevate AY.4.2 to a “variant under investigation.” The subvariant is reportedly 15 per cent more transmissible than the original Delta.
