We can control the next wave

SAMIRAN PANDA/ head of epidemiology and communicable diseases, ICMR

- REKHA DIXIT

Q/ Should we be worried about the Delta Plus variant?

A/ It has just been over a month since this variant was identified. It is a variant of an already known mutation, with one more mutation (also seen in the Beta and Gamma variants) on top of the existing mutations in the Delta variant. There have been very few cases so far.

A new variant is characterised in two ways. One, by genetic sequencing, which is very quick these days and therefore we know the genetic structure of this new variant. The other way to characterise it is through its clinical and epidemiological manifestations. We have to see how this variant behaves over a period of time to understand this aspect.

Q/ But it is being called a variant of concern (VoC).