Gujarat: ‘71% of cases since mid-May of Delta variant’

AHMEDABAD: Analysis of 198 samples of Covid positive patients sent to Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) from mid-May to mid-July reveals that 142 or 71% of the cases had Delta (B.1.617.2) variant. The rest of the cases included 13% Kappa (B.1.617.1) and 7.5% Alpha (B.1.1.7) variants.
The rest 8.5% included different variants including AY.3, B.1.1.354, B.1.617.3, B.1.214.2, B.1.36, B.1.1.409, B.1.1.306, B.1.36.8, B.1.1, and B.1 among others. The data was recently updated by the experts.
Delta has been ruling the roost since the start of the second wave like several other Indian states, said experts. The number of Kappa cases came from Ahmedabad, Surat, Bharuch, and Sabarkantha. Likewise, Alpha variant cases were seen in Ahmedabad, Surat, and Bharuch, reveal the analysis. Ahmedabad and Surat – recording the maximum Covid-19 cases – showed the maximum variations.
“There is no change in treatment protocol when it comes to different variants. The study however is important to understand the changing symptoms of the infection, virulence, mortality and infectivity. The variants also tell us about the possible route through which the virus may have entered the specific region,” said an Ahmedabad-based microbiologist. “There is a lot of interest in the variants also due to the fact that the third wave may be heralded by a possible new mutation.”
Delta variant, first identified in India, was considered to be the force behind India’s massive second wave of the pandemic and high mortality. After the second wave, Gujarat — and India at large — have increased genomic sequencing of the confirmed cases manifold to get early signs of mutation.