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Indian strain B.1.617: what is known about the virus

Experts believe that variant B. 1. 617 is the engine of the huge wave of infections observed in recent weeks across India. According to the World Health Organization, the country is now responsible for 50% of Covid-19 cases and 30% of deaths due to the virus worldwide.

The World Health Organization designated B. 1.617 and its subdivisions on 10 May as a ”strain of concern”. This classification means that the variant may be more transmissible or cause a more severe disease, not responding to treatment, avoiding immune response, or not being diagnosed with standard tests.
B. 1. 617 was the fourth breed to be announced a the “worrisome strain” of the World Health Organization; the others are B. 1.1.7, which was first seen in the UK; B. 1.351 was first discovered in South Africa; and P. 1, it is first found in Brazil.

Here’s what you need to know.

Is it more contagious?

The World Health Organization said virus B. 1. 617 has shown signs that it is likely to be more transmissible than some other strains of the virus, but has warned that more research is needed. Although Indian officials say the strain is driving the country’s second paralysing wave, the World Health Organization has said that many other contributing factors – such as mass gatherings – probably also contributed to the spread there.

The United Kingdom, which has world-class virus sequencing capabilities, has warned that type B. 1. 617. 2-a subspecies of the strain first found in India is likely to perform better than others, such as a high B. 1.1.7. Distribution first detected. In the UK last year became the most widespread variant of the virus in the country.

“What has changed is the very clear picture now that everyone has looked at it, that [B. 1.617.2] is more transferable than B. 1.1.7 and we expect that over time this variable will overtake and dominate the UK as B. 1.1.7 has taken over and the other variants have taken over before, the chief of England. said Medical Officer professor Chris Whitty Friday.

Is it more deadly?

To date, there is no evidence that B. 1.617 causes a more serious disease.

There is currently insufficient evidence to indicate that one of the variants recently discovered in India can cause a more serious disease

Do vaccines work against it?

Laboratory studies of the effectiveness of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against variants first seen in India showed that the shots seemed to provide protection against the strain. The results are reported Sunday in a pre-printed article on biorxiv.org, which has not yet been assessed.

The new study included serum samples collected from the eight people who had recovered from Covid-19, and six men, who were fully vaccinated with Pfizer’s vaccine, and the three men, who were fully vaccinated with Moderna, the investigators analysed in a laboratory experiment how the serum samples were able to slow the viruses to counteract a type of retrovirus, Equipped with the same changes as the Coronavirusvarianten B. 1.617 B. 1.618.

They found some reduction in neutralisation, but in general the antibodies of vaccinated people were found to act “much higher” than the serum for people who had recovered from Covid-19 caused by previous versions of the coronavirus.


Paolo Sorbello

Paolo Sorbello is a journalist and researcher. He is a PhD candidate at the University of Glasgow, studying state-business relations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. He is also the Business News Editor of the weekly newspaper The Conway Bulletin.

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