NEW DELHI: The Union government has alerted and advised three states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala about the 'Delta Plus variant of SARS-CoV-2, currently a variant of concern, which has been witnessed in some districts of these states.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has conveyed to these three states that the Delta Plus variants were found in the genome sequenced samples received from Ratnagiri and Jalgaon districts in Maharashtra, Palakkad and Pathanamthitta districts in Kerala, and Bhopal and Shivpuri districts in Madhya Pradesh. The centre has alerted these states about the recent findings of INSACOG. INSACOG is a consortium of 28 laboratories under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Biotechnology, ICMR and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for whole-genome sequencing in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

INSACOG is tasked with not just the whole genome sequencing, but also for giving timely inputs on appropriate public health response measures to be adopted by the states and Union Territories. INSACOG has informed that the Delta Plus variant has characteristics of increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response.

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