The coronavirus pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic (that will hopefully in time become an epidemic). It has been responsible for causing widespread damage to people in terms of one’s physical, mental and financial health. The pandemic which initially started out in Wuhan, China in December 2019 soon took over the world in a matter of weeks. The effects of the pandemic have affected a huge number of people irrespective of how they are as individuals and to which social group or strata they belong to in their corresponding society.
Although the intensity of the ripple put into motion by the pandemic might have been internalised by people differently the one factor that has united everyone is the grief caused due to the pandemic.
But the storm has in all probability passed. With more than half of the population in India already double vaccinated, now geared up for their booster doses, people feel more confident than ever before. Civilians have eased into the new normal, the economy is slowly coming back up on its heels and people have found new outlets to come to terms with their new Covid-induced lifestyle as well as health (both physical and mental).
In this article, let us quickly revisit the earlier and ongoing variants and try to analyse if there is going to be variants worse than the Delta and Omicron?
For India, undoubtedly the potent and most dangerous variant was the Delta strain that hit the country in the earlier part of 2021. While the United States and the rest of Europe were reeling under the first COVID-19 wave in 2020, most Indians across households were safe and secure due to the nationwide lockdown during this time.
The Delta variant was our worst nightmare and everything we weren’t prepared to handle. While on the one hand, hopes were high due to the initiated vaccination drives, on the other hand, complacency and utter disregard for COVID-19 standard protocols had seeped in amongst the masses leading to a surge in infections with fatal outcomes.
Some of those who did not require hospitalisation and were able to recover at home suffered from fatigue, gastric troubles, shortness of breath, weak immunity, hairfall, COVID-19 brain fog and many other symptoms for months. While the world thought the worse was finally over with the successful completion of the full vaccination drive (comprising two doses), came the Omicron variant.
EG.5 is spreading quickly, but experts say it’s no more dangerous than previous versions. Another new variant, called BA.2.86, is being closely watched because of its mutations.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Out of all the strains till now, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has agreed that the Omicron is milder in terms of disease severity. The reason why people were worried about the Omicron variant was that it is highly transmissible owing to its ability to evade immunity, whether inherent (from previous infections) or acquired from the vaccines. The need for hospitalisation due to an infection from the Omicron variant was less as it mostly causes a mild-moderate infection.
The risk of death from an Omicron infection is also less unlike the Delta variant seen in India. The duration of the 3rd wave started by Omicron was short-lived. While the infection spread rapidly from the end of December to January. By the end of January, the wave had started to subside and soon by February 15th, experts believe that it will reduce significantly.
Given the mild nature of the current strain as well as the short duration of the wave we may assume that with further mutations, the strain of the SARS-CoV-2 is weakening. But this may not be true. Read ahead to get clarity.
There are 2 possibilities here:
The news has been spreading about the NeoCov virus which scientists in Wuhan, China are currently studying. There is a lot of fear surrounding that but experts around the world have emphasized that further research is required to come to conclusive evidence regarding the possibility, intensity and danger of the variant. For now, it is too soon to tell anything about this.
The debate on whether there is ever going to be a variant more dangerous than Delta and Omicron can be hard to address right away. While the Delta and Omicron variants are still pretty much amongst us, covid appropriate behaviour is the right practice. Governments are of the strong opinion that vaccination is a crucial tool for fighting this pandemic. However, as we continue to go about our normal lives, we should all be vigilant at all times; wear masks and sanitise our hands. We should get vaccinated, take the booster doses (when eligible) and seek medical help when our health seems even the slightest bit compromised. Together, we can bring an end to the global crisis by being responsible citizens.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
We will always remember the second wave of COVID that was triggered by the Delta variant. But the worst is behind us. We have survived.
The potent Delta variant of COVID-19 was first identified in late 2020. It was a threatening variant that spread across countries and wreaked havoc. The virus was twice as contagious as the previous variants and affected many people.
During late November 2021, as the cases began to decrease, we noticed the emergence of another mutant, better known as the Omicron variant. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the B.1.1.529 variant of COVID-19 a “variant of concern”.
There was initially a steep rise in infections in South Africa which later spread rapidly across countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Mexico. In India, towards the end of January, we began to see a decline of Omicron as well.
In the wake of the two waves, scientists said that there is a possibility of people being affected by both variants.
Who is more vulnerable to co-infection from Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19? The answer is older people with comorbidities, people with a weaker immune system, and the ones who have multiple comorbidities. But the good news is, with proper caution, everyone can be safe.
Firstly, we must remember that both Delta and Omicron are variants of the same SARS-CoV-2 virus. There is a wide range of symptoms and certain symptoms may be more prominent in one strain than the other but more or less remains similar.
The common symptoms include fever or chills, breathing troubles, fatigue, body and headache, throat pain, diarrhoea and more. If you are infected with the Delta variant, you may experience more severe headaches, sore throats, high-grade fever, cough, breathing difficulties and loss of taste and smell may be seen less. In case you are infected with Omicron, you are more likely to experience cold-like symptoms accompanied by sore throat and weakness. Fever may or may not be present. It is also considered milder than Delta in terms of disease severity and has less risk of hospitalization and death. People usually do not experience loss of taste or smell if they have been infected with the Omicron variant.
It is important to note that both delta and Omicron variants can cause a full spectrum of diseases ranging from asymptomatic, mild, moderate or even severe cases and deaths. The proportion of the population getting a severe illness or mild is definitely different for both variants.
It is not possible to confirm whether a person is infected by Delta variant or Omicron just by their symptoms. Genome sequencing is the only way to confirm the variant.
When Delta was the dominant variant it was believed that it is highly contagious and unvaccinated people were at high risk. With Omicron we figured that it spreads more quickly than Delta due to the variant’s ability to evade immunity. It may have increased transmissibility owing to its shortened incubation period and its apparent ability to stay in the upper respiratory tract and multiply quicker there.
Though the symptom profile isn’t too drastically different between the Delta and Omicron COVID-19 variants, data show that Omicron appears to be milder than Delta. The transmissibility is more with Delta and omicron and the rate of community spread is faster.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Yes, a co-infection with both Omicron and Delta at the same time may happen. While it is not common, there are a few instances under research.
If a group of people gather at a place and some of them are infected with the Omicron variant and others have the Delta variant, you may be exposed to both variants through droplets.
As the Omicron variant will infect some cells, the Delta variant will infect others and that leads to higher chances of a coinfection. Not only that, but you may also contract both the Covid new strains one after the other in close succession.
Both rapid Covid tests and RT PCR tests cannot identify which variant of the virus someone has. Hence, it is not easy to tell if you have a coinfection without genomic sequencing. The symptoms will not help you determine a coinfection, either.
A coinfection can particularly make your body really weak and it is important to consult a doctor and take utmost care. If you neglect the infection and consider it just the flu, you may put yourself at risk of sudden complications. Proper treatment, medications, good nutrition, hydration, rest and routine monitoring of vitals can reduce the chances of hospitalizations to a great extent.
Conclusion: The first and foremost thing to note here is that a fully vaccinated person has a significantly lower risk of a serious illness due to Covid. While having a coinfection of Omicron and Delta COVID-19 variants seems worrisome, with medication and proper care you can recover well. To stay protected against Delmicron, you must continue to wear a mask, follow covid appropriate behaviour and get vaccinated.
This article has been medically reviewed and fact-checked by Dr Nikita Toshi.
Around the world, the vaccination rate is thankfully ticking up with over 55% of the population inoculated as we head into the end of 2021. In India, the same figure stands at 32% with more than 57% of the country receiving at least 1 dose. Recently, the WHO designated a variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as a Variant of Concern, giving it the name ‘Omicron’.
Since the Delta variant, we have all been on the lookout for what will come next and it seems our questions have been answered. What kind of threat does Omicron pose? Will we see increased lockdowns in India or around the world like when Delta first came to light? Let’s discuss what we know so far.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, like all viruses and bacteria, constantly evolves and mutates. Mutations are common and most mutations typically do not cause any drastic changes in how the virus behaves or interacts with humans.
Once in a while, however, a mutation or change in the virus can alter its properties significantly. For example, it could impact the rate of transmissibility and change how effective the virus is at invading the immune system. This could make the virus better at infecting us. Now, since viruses are constantly changing, it would be impossible and ineffective to track every variation that occurs. That’s why the WHO uses a methodical approach, identifying Variants that need to be tracked and observed.
Variants of Concern is one category that identifies variants that can spread more easily, can cause serious illness or those that do not get treated or diagnosed easily by the existing measures as easily as existing variants. Omicron is the latest variant to receive the Variant of Concern title and was first detected in South Africa, with at least 30 countries having its cases by December 2021. The first cases of Omicron detected in India were discovered in Karnataka.
The World Health Organisation created the naming convention for variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, both to simplify matters and help reduce stigma. The Variants of Interest and Concern are named simply after letters in the Greek alphabet.
Technically, the variants that we watch over all have long-winded scientific names. The scientific name for the Delta variant is B.1.617.2, while for Omicron it is B.1.1.529. These are long, hard to grasp titles. To make things easy for the media and general population to understand things, the WHO uses this Greek naming scheme.
Another reason is to help avoid blame games and finger-pointing on a global scale. Often when a new variant is discovered, the country where it is first detected often gets an unfair association with the outbreak of that variant. For example, the Delta variant has long been addressed as the ‘Indian variant’.
The previous variants of the virus were designated Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and so on. Although following the sequence, the latest variant was expected to be named Nu. But Nu and Xi letters in Greek were skipped and Omicron was chosen as the name for this new variant.
The WHO has emphasised time and again that vaccination remains our strongest tool in fighting off the disease as well as preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19. The organisation is working to understand the effectiveness of vaccines against this variant, however, vaccination continues to be one of the leading forces in limiting the severity of symptoms and death.
Also Read: Is Covaxin Effective Against Omicron?
There is not much we can know until the initial studies are complete and more data is collected. For new information always use trusted sources such as the WHO or government websites. Do not trust unverified information such as that found through messaging forwards and social media posts. We have no need to panic but every need to keep following the standard COVID-19 protocols. Wearing a mask, keeping physical distance, following respiratory etiquettes and maintaining proper hand hygiene should continue. And as the WHO has said, we need to continue with our vaccination efforts. Maybe we have all begun to relax a bit and that’s understandable. But this new variant comes as a reminder to stay vigilant and stay safe.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
With a steep drop in the number of Coronavirus cases across India, people have started to feel that the tragedy is finally over. But unfortunately, when we have started going out again, a new variant of the virus – Delta Plus – has emerged, posing a bigger threat to mankind.
The Delta Plus variant is the mutated version of the Delta variant, which was already spreading across India.
So far, India has recorded 49 cases of Delta+ variant across 12 states of the country. Maharashtra is once again the worst-hit state with the maximum number of cases. Notably, the Delta Plus variant has already broken into 85 countries across the world and is one of the biggest reasons behind the surge in infection in South Africa.
The Delta+ variant, also referred to as AY.1 is about 60% more contagious than the previous version – the Delta variant. It is more dangerous for the lungs of the patients as it binds even more easily with the lung cells.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has confirmed that there have been two graded mutations in the Delta variant, which already was the most dominant strain of coronavirus in India till date.
ICMR has also stated that these mutations have increased the transmission capability of the variant and now it will spread from one person to another even more quickly. These mutations have also made it much easier for the virus to get into the cells of a patient.
The biggest reason to be worried is that the experts of epidemiology and communicable diseases have claimed Delta Plus to be the most dangerous mutation of coronavirus till now.
The top virologists of the country have confirmed that the Delta Plus variant shows the symptoms of both, the delta variant and beta variant. Have a look at the symptoms:
The delta pus variant may also cause symptoms like nausea, stomach ache and loss of appetite.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already notified the Delta variant of Coronavirus as a cause of concern for the world. WHO has also made it very clear that similar to the previous variants of COVID-19 infection, wearing a mask while going out and following the norms of social distancing are essential to prevent the Delta Plus variant of the virus.
Here are the measures you should take to prevent the Delta Plus variant from infecting you and your loved ones:
The important thing about delta plus variant is, it is 50% more contagious and faster spreading than other variants and it has a propensity for what is called a HYPERLOCAL outbreaks.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
There are no sure-shot ways of treatment to treat Delta Plus variant infection as of yet. Usually, doctors use antibodies to treat this variant too. The best way to ensure the safety of your loved ones and yourself is to get vaccinated. As per the experts, none of the existing treatment courses have been found effective against this variant so far.
Although the delta variant is more contagious and spreads rapidly, it is rarely linked to severe infections in hospitalised patients, you may usually start showing symptoms within 4 days of getting infected with the delta variant of Covid
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
With the Delta Plus variant spreading its wings across India, we once again find ourselves in an uncomfortable situation where we may have to face another lockdown, shortage of hospital beds, oxygen cylinders, life-saving medications and whatnot. If we really don’t want to repeat that horrible episode we saw about a month ago, we must ensure to follow all the protocols established by the government. Let’s pledge that this time, we would not let any of our loved ones die just because of our careless behaviour.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
With the pandemic still rampant across the country, it does appear to us that it may take a long time due to emerging multiples of virus variants. Some of these variants are silent mutations and are not effective, while the others, like the latest COVID Delta variant B.1.617.2, are increasing the severity of the COVID-19 spread in India. Scientists say that the sudden surge in the COVID-19 cases is because of the additional mutations in B.1.617.2 lineage, leading to a Delta plus variant (AY.1).
The COVID Delta variant was first detected in India and is now a Variant of Concern (VoC) for about 85 countries. The Delta variant is the dominant strain in the UK, comprising 91% of the cases. The Delta plus variant is present in 12 countries and so far 50 cases have been identified in 12 Indian states. According to the statement released by the Union Health Ministry, the COVID Delta plus variant has characteristics like increased transmissibility, stronger binding to lung receptors and decreased monoclonal antibody production.
Although there is a substantial decline in effectiveness, the approved COVID-19 vaccines remain effective against infection and hospitalization due to the Delta variant.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
All the experts worldwide are confident that most of the existing vaccines can deal with the new COVID Delta variant. Although it is 60% more transmissible than the alpha variant, they have observed only around 50 cases of the new variant in the last two months. So, experts opine that there is no need to panic but suggest scaling up vaccination drives across the countries as it is the only practical way to combat the Coronavirus.
Scientists are concerned about the effects because of the mutation on the spike protein of the Delta plus variant. In India, the spread of the COVID Delta variant infection is localised and sporadic. However, it mainly spreads to the unvaccinated populations and it affects the most vulnerable individuals who suffer severe illness and have chronic infections.
Most of the vaccines developed are active against the alpha strand of the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, the COVID-19 vaccine’s efficacy is a concern for the Delta variant, which has led to the public being apprehensive about getting vaccinated. The effectiveness of vaccines, which was up to 94% for the alpha variants, has been reduced to about 60% – 70% for Delta variants. Moreover, the clinical trials of the Novavax vaccine and Sputnik V vaccine are still in process for the Delta variant.
COVID-19 vaccines give you protection against serious illness caused by the original strain of the virus and the viruses variants that cause COVID-19, many developed across the world are bringing in seasonal flu and covid vaccinations to continue building herd immunity.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
The Delta variant is more resistant to existing vaccines than other COVID-19 variants. It is estimated that the Delta variant may present mild illness in people who received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the research data published in Lancet, two weeks after the second dose, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine – Covishield in India – is showing 60% efficacy against the Delta type while the Pfizer/BioNTech seems to be around 88%.
The Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines were only 33% effective three weeks after the first dose against the Delta variant. The Covaxin of Bharat BioTech, Sputnik V and Novavax vaccines were also reported to be effective against the Delta variant but it is not known to what extent. Other studies by Public Health England (PHE) suggest that the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine has shown 94% effectiveness after hospital administration of one dose and 96% after the second dose. The Covishield vaccine efficacy was 71% and 92%, respectively.
Despite the various COVID-19 vaccines in the market, it takes time to decide the best among them. Efficacy is usually denoted as the percentage reduction of the disease in people who received the vaccination, whereas the effectiveness can be compared after administering different vaccines to the same populations. For instance, Pfizer and AstraZeneca have similar effectiveness and they reliably prevent COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalisation and death even after a single dose.
Regardless of the statistical figures, the studies and the clinical trials are ongoing to determine the existing COVID-19 vaccine’s efficacy against the COVID Delta variant. Researchers at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have cultured the COVID Delta variant and are now testing in the laboratory to check the performance of the COVID-19 vaccines against the Delta variant. Though researchers test a range of doses, schedules and combinations of vaccines, it is sometimes difficult to conclude how long the vaccine-mediated immunity will last.
It is not simply possible to compare the results alone. In order to rank the vaccines, one must consider their reported effectiveness, supplies and logistics costs, the durability of the protection they offer and their ability to resist emerging viral variants. Nevertheless, the best vaccine is the one you can get immediately.
The global pandemic is emerging with distinct viral variants of concern. Mutations that alter immunogenicity, virulence and pathogenicity can lead to the new strain. As new strains emerge because of coronavirus mutations, the only reliable measure to stay safe is to get vaccinated and follow COVID appropriate behaviour.
There have been cases in India wherein fully vaccinated individuals were affected by the COVID-19 Delta variant. But the majority of these individuals were able to make full recovery. Therefore, vaccination protects to an extent.
Getting both shots of the vaccine and maintaining social distancing not only ensures your safety but prevents the creation of new strains through mutation as well.
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
