Explained: Coronavirus Variants, Their Impact And Vaccines

Coronavirus: According to a WHO report, variants with the most potential to cause harm are called "variants of concern" and monitored closely by health officials.

As the pandemic's first wave subsided towards the end of last year, it led to a sense of casual relief. But it did not last as the second wave hit soon with much more fury. This wave was blamed primarily on mutation in coronavirus, which fuelled a talk about its variants. The most worrisome of these mutants of SARS-CoV-2 is the Delta variant, now spreading to several countries. Will #COVID19 vaccines work against new virus variants? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ZsGq3OpJNT However, mutation in coronavirus is not a unique phenomenon. Viruses mutate all the time and most of them are deemed non-dangerous. The Delta variant, first reported in India in October last year, has already become the dominant strain in the UK and is moving in that direction in the US and a few other countries. Authorities in India have reported a further mutation in Delta, which has been identified as Delta Plus. But it is not yet clear how virulent or lethal it could be. Dr Randeep Guleria, the director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, said there is not much data on the Delta Plus variant to suggest that it was more infectious or caused a higher rate of mortality.