Delta Plus: Centre writes to Maharashtra, MP to take up containment measures

The Union Health Ministry wrote to the chief secretaries of Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh and Kerala and requested them to take up immediate containment measures as cases of Delta Plus variant were found in these three statesHealth Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in the letter requested the chief secretaries to take up immediate containment measures in these districts and clusters including preventing crowds and intermingling of people widespread testing prompt tracing as well as vaccine coverage on a priority basisBhushan said it is intimated that Delta Plus variant has been found in Bhopal and Shivpuri districts of Madhya Pradesh Ratnagiri and Jalgaon districts of Maharashtra and Palakkad and Pathanamthitta districts of KeralaAlso Read Delta Plus still variant of interest 40 cases reported in India so far Govt sourcesThe Public Health Response in this case while broadly remaining the same has to become more focused and stringent Thus you are requested to take up immediate containment measures in these districts and clusters including preventing crowds and intermingling of people widespread testing prompt tracing as well as vaccine coverage on a priority basis read the letterYou are requested to ensure that adequate samples of positive persons are sent to the designated laboratories of INSACOG promptly so that the clinical epidemiological correlations can be made it saidThe Union Health Ministry on Wednesday informed that the Delta Plus variant was observed sporadically in Maharashtra Kerala and Madhya Pradesh with around 40 cases identified so far and added that there is no significant increase in its prevalenceThese states have been advised for strengthening surveillance and appropriate public health measuresAs of now among the samples sequenced 45000 in India this variant has been observed sporadically in Maharashtra Kerala amp Madhya Pradesh with around 40 cases identified so far and no significant increase in prevalence Union Health Ministry said in a statementThe statement notes all Delta sublineages are treated as a VOC Variant of Concern although properties of AY1 are still being investigated Currently the variant frequency of AY1 is low in India Cases with AY1 have been mostly reported from nine countries of Europe Asia and America it saidThe retrospective analysis of samples revealed the first occurrence of this lineage from a sample collected from Maharashtra sample collection date April 5 2021As of 18th June 205 sequences of AY1 lineage was detected worldwide with USA and UK having over half the known cases the Union health ministry notedThe ministry said the role of AY1s role in immune escape disease severity or increased transmissibility etc is under continued surveillanceCurrently the number of such Delta plus variants in India are only few but the distribution detection in various States during past two months indicate that the B161721 AY1 is already present in some States and States may need to enhance their public health response by focusing on surveillance enhanced testing quick contacttracing and priority vaccination in defined geographies where AY1 has been detected it saidFollowing the advisory Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said I have directed officials that the Delta Plus variant cases should be monitored closely Information about these cases should be collected and recorded for study We are taking 100 samples from every districtINSACOG a consortium of 28 laboratories of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Department of Biotechnology Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR has informed that the Delta Plus Variant currently a Variant of Concern VOC has the following characteristics Increased transmissibility Stronger binding to receptors of lung cells and Potential reduction in monoclonal antibody responseThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever