Is Delta Plus a deadlier corona variant than Delta that wreaked havoc in India during Covid 2-0? Or is it overhyped? Rajdeep Sardesai raises the big question.
Q: Is Delta Plus deadlier than the Delta variant?
DR. SHAHID JAMEEL, VIROLOGIST AND DIRECTOR, TRIVEDI SCHOOL OF BIOSCIENCES, ASHOKA UNIVERSITY:
I don’t think there is data in India yet that it is transmitting faster or it is more lethal. The real concern is two variants of concern have come together. Everything else at this stage without evidence is a hypothesis.
Q: Can it escape vaccination and antibodies? Is that the fear?
DR. SHAHID JAMEEL: That’s the fear. But studies have to be done. On the basis of 40 sequences, no one can make a judgment.
Q: Will I be alarmist to say this could be a prelude to a third wave?
DR. SHAHID JAMEEL: I would say this should be a matter of concern. This should be tracked but let’s not panic. That’s the last thing we should do.
Q: Is there a fear in the UK that Delta Plus could be deadlier?
PROF. SANJEEV KRISHNA, PROFESSOR, MOLECULAR PARASITOLOGY AND MEDICINE, ST GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY, LONDON:
In general, as these variants emerge, vaccines have still helped prevent severe disease. And that’s very important. Other than vaccination, we also have masking, spacing and testing to limit variants.
Q: How prepared is Maharashtra for Delta Plus?
DR. SHASHANK JOSHI, MEMBER, COVID TASK FORCE, MAHARASHTRA:
The 20 cases detected in Ratnagiri were mild and moderate. Early data is reassuring. But it’s too small a sample for us to make an observation. We will have data. We can’t be alarmist but we can’t lower our guard either. People have stopped masking; crowding and congregations are happening. We need to have our genomic surveillance and aggressive testing in place but there shouldn’t be any complacency and Covid-appropriate behaviour must continue.
Q: What are the lessons we can learn from the second wave?
DR. SHAHID JAMEEL: If science provides you with evidence, don’t look the other way. Don’t panic but follow the evidence and follow the scientific method to confirm the evidence. It’s time to find out how much it has spread.
Q: What can we learn from the UK?
PROF. SANJEEV KRISHNA: There is a need to acquire a proper genome sequence analysis. We must also follow how these variants are behaving. We must also get data on the vaccine escape question. But let’s not forget we’re going to be discussing variants of this virus.
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