Coronavirus: New COVID variants to watch out for apart from Delta Plus, according to health experts

Viruses are meant to mutate and evolve and new variants of a virus are expected to occur. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "When a virus replicates or makes copies of itself, it sometimes changes a little bit, which is normal for a virus. These changes are called “mutations”. A virus with one or more new mutations is referred to as a “variant” of the original virus."

That being said, since the onset of novel coronavirus, many new variants have emerged and wreaked havoc across the globe. The Delta variant, which is said to have driven the second wave, has mutated into a new strain, Delta Plus, which is all the more transmissible and concerning.

Now, health experts have listed down a number of new COVID variants other than the Delta and Delta Plus variants that are emerging.

Read more: Coronavirus Delta Plus Variant: Will the Delta Plus variant cause a third COVID wave? Here's what the Centre has to say

Lambda variant was first discovered in Peru in August 2020 and has been reported in about 29 countries since. Experts claim that this variant has many mutations in the spike protein, which could hold a direct like to it's transmissibility rate.

While the United Kingdom has reported 35,204 new cases of the Delta COVID-19 variant in the last week, the Public Health England (PHE) reported six cases that have been discovered from February 23 to June 7. For now, PHE has categorised the Lambda (C.37) variant as a ‘Variant of Interest’ (VoI).

Read more: Coronavirus: New Lambda variant detected in the UK; here's everything you need to know

The Kappa variant of SARs-COV-2 virus is one of the three sublineages of Pango lineage B.1.617. It is also known as B.1.617.1 and was first detected in India in December 2020.

The double mutation includes a combination of E484Q and E484K mutation, dominant in Brazillian and South African variants respectively. It also contains L452R mutation which helps the variant to dodge immune defences.

Reportedly, the B.11.318 variant, like the Kappa variant, includes E484K mutation. India has reported two genome sequences of this new variant.

A lineage of B.1.617 variant, B.1.617.3 is a part of the Delta variant B.1.617.2, which is said to be responsible for the second wave of coronavirus in India.

As of now, the experts have termed B.1.617.3 variant as a variant of interest or concern.

At a time, when so many new variants are emerging, it is our responsibility and duty to stay vigilant. Although border restrictions have been lifted and states have begun their unlock process, remember to take all precautionary measures. Practice COVID appropriate behaviour and stay home as long as possible. Double masking is still very important and people should continue to practice hygiene.

Read more: Coronavirus prevention: What you can do to protect yourself from Delta Plus variant, as per experts

Above all, get yourself vaccinated. Vaccination is the only way to gain some immunity against the infection and/or to reduce risk of severe infection.