Mumbai:
Twenty-one cases of the Delta Plus Covid variant, the mutant version of the Delta variant that unleashed the devastating second wave of the pandemic, have been found in Maharashtra so far, state health minister Rajesh Tope said today.
The new variant has acquired a mutation linked with circumventing the body’s immunity, scientists say, adding as of now it is no cause for concern.
“On Delta plus variant I want to say, Maharashtra took a decision on genome sequencing and 100 samples were collected from every district…since May 15, we have collected over 7,500 samples and we have found 21 cases,” he said.
According to the minister, 9 cases of the new variants have been found in Ratnagiri, 7 in Jalgaon, 2 in Mumbai, one in Palghar and one each in Sindhudurg and Thane.
He said the authorities are trying to collect data and details linked to those found infected with the mutant version of the Delta variant, which was first found in India but has become the dominant variant in several places across the world.
The government will analyse information like their travel history, their vaccination status, whether they have been re-infections and if they got infected despite vaccination, to know more about the Delta Plus mutant.
