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COVID-19: New mutant AY.4.2 detected in Maharashtra

This latest mutation was first discovered in July this year and has been spreading since then. The AY.4.2 mutation has been classified as a Variant Under Investigation (VUI) by the UK Health Service Agency (UKHSA).

COVID-19: New mutant AY.4.2 detected in Maharashtra
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According to a latest data revealed National Centre of Disease Control (NCDC), nearly 17 cases of AY.4.2 lineage of COVID-19, which is a sub-variant of the Delta coronavirus strain, have been reported in India so far.

At least six states of India, including Maharashtra, have been detected with the new variant. Of the total cases, seven were reported in Andhra Pradesh, four in Kerala, two each in Telangana and Karnataka, and one each in Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.

It has been found in 1 per cent of samples collected in Maharashtra. There are reports of the variant emerging in other parts of the country too. However, with the data being minimal, experts are not seeing a large number of patients showing any rare signs as yet.

The AY.4.2 mutation has been classified as a Variant Under Investigation (VUI) by the UK Health Service Agency (UKHSA).

This latest mutation was first discovered in July this year and has been spreading since then.

Moreover, there are now 75 AY lineages identified, each with different additional defining mutations in their genome. While the broader Delta variant was first reportedly found in India, one of its variant - AY.4 - has already become a dominant mutant in the UK.

The AY.4.2 coronavirus variant has entered several European countries. It has dropped off the radar in Germany and Ireland, though it is lingering in Denmark.

Experts believe that it is still too early to tell if this is the beginning of the next dominant lineage, and any ability this variant might have of escaping immunity needs to be confirmed by experimental work.

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