As we try to outrun the pandemic by ramping up vaccination, emerging variants make the task all the more harder.
While some variants like the Alpha and Delta variants have left a trail of destruction in their wake, others have been largely inconsequential.
While the potential threat of the Delta plus variant looms in India, 2 cases of the Kappa variant detected in UP have sparked renewed concerns.
However, it may be too soon to ring the alarm bells.
What do we know about the variant? Do the vaccines protect against it?
FIT answers your FAQs.
When was the Kappa variant first identified?
The Kappa was first identified in India back in October 2020 by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
What do we know about the Kappa variant's mutations?
The B.1.617.1 COVID variant called Kappa variant. The variant belongs to the lineage of the B.1.617 SARS-CoV-2 variant that also mutated to form the Delta variant (B.1.1617.2).
It comprises multiple mutations but is known as a double mutation owing to the two notable mutations, E484Q and L452R on the spike protein.
However, the Delta variant turned out to be far more infectious than the Kappa variant.
Is it a variant of concern?
Not yet. The WHO assigned Kappa the status of variant of interest (VOI) in April.
This means, though the variant is not a cause for immediate concern, it is being closely watched and studied.
How does it compare to the Delta variant?
Delta variant is considered one of the most infectious COVID variants to date having rapidly spread in over 100 countries with the WHO calling it the “the fastest and fittest", variant.
The Delta variant which is also thought to be the primary cause for the devastation caused by the second wave in India, is classified as a variant of concern by the WHO and is considered a much larger threat than the Kappa variant at the moment.
How many cases of the variant have been identified in India so far?
2 cases of the Kappa variant have been detected in India so far, both in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Do COVID vaccines protect against the variant?
Bharat Biotech in a statement said their COVID vaccine, Covaxin was effective against the Kappa variant along with other COVID variants.
A recent study also found that the Moderna mRNA vaccine is also affective against the Kappa variant.
A study conducted by the University of Oxford points the AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield in India) also provides a good antibody response against the variant.
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