The Union Ministry of Health on Sunday confirmed that ‘no case of Delta Plus reported from sample sequencing in Tripura’. The confirmation came within a couple of days after Tripura Health department made an announcement on Delta Plus variant infection in Tripura.
The confirmation from the Ministry came through a press release issued from the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Delhi.
The press release said, “There were some Media reports regarding rising cases of Delta Plus variants in Tripura. In this regard, it is informed that : 152 samples were sent from Tripura to NIBMG Kalyani for Whole Genome Sequence(WGS). The random samples were of people tested RT-PCR positive between April and May 2021.”
“The results of the WGS done at NIBMG Kalyani revealed — 3 samples had tested positive for B.1.1.7, total 11 samples had tested positive for B.1.617.1 (Kappa), and the remaining 138 samples had tested positive for B.1.617.2 (Delta),” the release said.
According to the press release, the after WGS, Delta variant – but not the Delta Plus variant was traced in Tripura.
Meanwhile, the State Health Department after getting this information communicated with the Centre and a clarification was sought in this regard, Health Officials said.
In this regard, the State Health Department also referred to a press release from PIB issued on June 28 last in which the Union Ministry of Health had described the code- B1.617.2 as Delta plus variant. Now, they are saying that this code will be treated as Delta variant only,” the official said.
It seems that earlier the misinterpretation was done from the Ministry of Health. However, the clarification is still awaited, according to official sources.
Notably, the PIB press release on June 28 last which was a FAQ on Delta and Delta Plus variant read:
“Q. What are Delta and Delta Plus variants?
These are the names given to variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus, based on the mutations found in them. WHO has recommended using letters of the Greek Alphabet, i.e., Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617), etc., to denote variants, for easier public understanding.
Delta variant, also known as SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617, has about 15-17 mutations. It was first reported in October 2020. More than 60% of cases in Maharashtra in February 2021 pertained to delta variants.
It is the Indian scientists who identified the Delta Variant and submitted it to the global database. Delta variant is classified as a Variant of Concern and has now spread to 80 countries, as per WHO.
Delta variant (B.1.617) has three subtypes B1.617.1, B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3, among which B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.3 have been classified as Variant of Interest, while B.1.617.2 (Delta Plus) has been classified as a Variant of Concern.
The Delta Plus variant has an additional mutation in comparison to Delta variant; this mutation has been named as the K417N mutation. ‘Plus’ means an additional mutation has happened to the Delta variant. It does not mean that the Delta Plus variant is more severe or highly transmissible than the Delta variant.”
