Delta-plus toll in Maharashtra rises to five, all had comorbidities

MUMBAI: Deaths linked to the Delta-plus variant of coronavirus rose to five in Maharashtra as the state’s public health department confirmed three more fatalities from Ratnagiri, Raigad and Beed on Friday.
The toll includes two deaths from Ratnagiri and one each from Mumbai, Raigad and Beed. Caused by a mutation of the virulent Delta strain, Delta-plus infections in the state touched 66 with one addition from Thane on Friday.
All deceased, three men and two women, were above the age of 65 years and with multiple comorbidities. Two were fully vaccinated, two others had not received a single dose while the immunisation status of the fifth is under investigation. In a week’s time, the state’s Delta-plus tally has jumped from 21 to 66. Officials, however, said some of the deaths and cases dated back to June, and their genome sequencing reports have only just arrived.
State surveillance officer Dr Pradeep Awate said there was no reason to panic as the deaths were among those with comorbid conditions. “It is important to understand that Delta is still the dominant strain accounting for over 80% cases and vaccines can protest against Delta,” he said, adding people should continue to wear masks and maintain physical distance.
On the spread of Delta-plus, immunologist Dr Vineeta Bal from the from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune said the strain doesn’t seem to be overtaking Delta the way Delta overpowered the Wuhan strain. But the scenario will be clear when more samples are sequenced.
Both Ratnagiri deaths have been reported from the Sangameshwar taluka. The latest victim was a 73-year-old with a history of diabetes and hypertension. His symptoms surfaced on May 11 and he was hospitalised on May 26. He passed away on May 29 at Mumbai’s St George Hospital during treatment. His vaccination status is being investigated. District officials said he had a history of fever, breathlessness and loose motions at the time of hospitalisation. The state’s first Delta-plus death, reported in June, was also from Sangameshwar, where the victim was an 80-year-old. The district has also reported a dozen cases of Delta-plus, at least ten from Sangameshwar alone.
The deceased from Raigad was 69 years old who was detected with Covid-19 in July and passed away on July 22 after 17 days of hospitalisation. A former journalist and resident of Nagothane, he had a history of diabetes and was vaccinated with both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in May. “His oxygen levels were low and it was difficult to administer Remdesivir to him. He had low blood pressure and blood sugar level was fluctuating,” said Dr Suhas Mane, civil surgeon, Raigad, adding that four of his contacts have tested Covid positive and are recuperating. The district has reported two Delta-plus cases, including the journalist and a 44-year-old teacher from Uran who has recovered now. Both were fully vaccinated with Covishield. She didn’t require hospitalisation and five of her contacts have tested Covid positive and have been isolated.
The 66 cases are spread over 17 districts but the highest have been reported from Jalgaon (13), Ratnagiri (12) and Mumbai (11). In certain districts like Gondia that have two positive cases, the officials said a full contact tracing operation has been started although the cases were from June. Both Delta-plus cases in Gondia were of women, who are housewives and between 18-44. One of them had a visitor from Hyderabad, officials said. Both patients in Palghar have recovered. One of the positive cases in Palghar was a pregnant woman. In Mumbai, 7 of the 11 cases reported to BMC this week were women.