"Infection Just by Walking Nearby"... Delta Plus Variant Neutralizes Vaccines, Emergency Alert

Coronavirus Variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta) [Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] As the COVID-19 Delta variant rapidly spreads worldwide, experts have warned that the 'Delta Plus variant,' which is estimated to have higher transmissibility than the Delta variant, can infect people simply by walking next to an infected person.

On the 23rd (local time), according to India Today, Dr. Randeep Guleria, director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), India's top medical institution, stated, "The transmissibility of Delta Plus is very high," adding, "If you do not wear a mask, you can get infected just by walking next to an infected person." Dr. Guleria did not provide specific data evidence.

Currently, Delta Plus has been reported in 10 countries, including three states in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Poland, Nepal, Russia, and China.

According to local media, the Delta Plus variant carries the 'K417N mutation' in addition to the characteristics of the existing Delta variant. K417N is a mutation found in the Beta variant (originating from South Africa) and the Gamma variant (originating from Brazil).

Dr. Praya Yadav of the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in India said, "Delta Plus appears to be more contagious and has a higher ability to bind to lung cells," adding, "It requires close monitoring."

The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (Insacog), under the Ministry of Health, also stated, "The Delta Plus variant binds more easily to lung cells than the existing Delta variant and may reduce the neutralizing ability of some antibodies."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, concerns have emerged that the Delta Plus variant may even have the ability to evade existing vaccines.

Professor Shahid Jamil, a virus expert in India, predicted, "The Beta variant evades vaccines much better than the Alpha or Delta variants," adding, "Delta Plus can evade immunity gained from previous infections as well as immunity from vaccination."

Health authorities have stated that Delta Plus has not been confirmed domestically.

At a briefing on the 24th, Jeong Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said, "It has been confirmed that reports have been made in about 11 countries worldwide, and so far, it has not been confirmed in our country," adding, "Since it is necessary to analyze and monitor the transmissibility of this virus, its severity, and its impact on antibody treatments and vaccines, the government will continue monitoring."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.