Delta variant of Covid detected in 99% of samples collected in October: Government of Delhi | Latest Delhi News

New Delhi: The Delta variant and its sub-lines of the Sars-CoV-2 virus which causes coronavirus disease (Covid-19) were detected in 99% of samples from Delhi patients that were sequenced in October, according to the Delhi government data.

More than 7,300 samples have been sequenced from Delhi since the Indian Sars-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) was established earlier this year.

The delta variant was found in 54% of samples sequenced in April and 82% in May, according to government data. It was then that Delhi witnessed a massive second wave of Covid-19, reporting more than 28,000 cases in a single day at its peak. The data suggest that 39% of the total samples sequenced are those of the delta variant.

HT reported in June that the Delta variant of Sars-Cov-2 outperformed the Alpha variant within weeks and triggered Delhi’s most devastating wave of Covid-19, according to a study by the Institute of Genomics and Biology integrative which has found delta to be more transmissible and better able to evade immunity generated by natural infection or vaccination.

The most commonly found variant is still delta (B1.617.2) which is found in almost half of the samples, followed by the AY.4 subline, according to the researchers doing the sequencing.

“The original delta continues to be the most common sequence, which is followed by the AY4 delta subline,” said Dr Ekta Gupta, who heads the INSACOG regional laboratory at the Institute of Liver Sciences. and bile in Delhi.

Another INSACOG senior scientist said that AY4 was the most common delta subline found in Delhi. those who have already been infected or who have been fully vaccinated.

According to the latest INSACOG bulletin, many sequences labeled as AY4 have now been reclassified as AY33 on the PANGO software used by researchers to classify variants. “It was noted that due to the greater diversity of Delta in India, the PANGO classifications can sometimes be inaccurate, especially for new sublines,” the bulletin said.

Dr Ekta said: “The virus continues to mutate and is reclassified, however, there is no clinical significance for these variants yet. Being closely related to the original Delta variant, they are unlikely to affect a large number of people in Delhi, many of whom have already been exposed to the Delta.

The September-October serosurveillance cycle in Delhi showed that 97% of the population has developed antibodies against the virus. “Now there are very few cases and very few sequences that are done. And, regardless of the sequencing, we find delta variants, which is a good sign. It will be a matter of concern if we notice anything else, ”said a chief medical officer at Lok Nayak Hospital, which is also a regional sequencing center.