The Delta variant AY.4.2 is currently spreading at a faster rate in the UK.However, recently, the cases of ‘AY.4.2’ type coronavirus have come into the limelight in Telangana.
According to a recent WHO report, 26,000 ‘AY.4.2’ cases were registered with Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza (GISAID) worldwide.In September, 274 blood samples from Telangana were sent to the Center for DNA Fingerprinting Laboratory in Hyderabad for genome sequencing.Of these, two (0.6%) cases were found to be ‘AY4.2’ Delta variant cases.
The two blood samples belong to a 48-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman.
They were sent to the lab from NIMS hospital for genome sequencing.However, the officials lack information regarding the whereabouts of the victims.
So far, 18 cases of the AY4.2 variant have been reported in India.Most of these were registered in Karnataka and Maharashtra.Medical experts say that the Delta AY.4.2 variant, which was first identified in countries such as the UK, Russia, the US and Israel, is spreading 15 per cent faster than the regular Delta variant.
However, the medical health department has issued warnings to people to be vigilant in the wake of the rising number of corona cases across the globe.
