Ganguly (49), who had undergone treatment for a heart condition early last year, was admitted to the hospital on December 28.
The new variant of Covid-19 virus, being called as Delta 'Plus' is in negligible numbers in India. Chief of Odisha Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET), CBK Mohanty shared this information on Monday (Oct 25).
Delta Plus is a mutated form of the Delta variant and was first discovered in India. It is characterised by increased transmissibility and spike protein mutations.
Even though the new Delta plus variant of Covid-19 virus has raised fears about another wave of the pandemic due to its highly infectious nature, the Odisha Health Department on Friday advised people to shun fears as the State has not yet detected a single case of the new variant since May.
The first patient of Odisha who was infected with a mutant strain of SARS-CoV-2 called Delta Plus had taken 20 to 25 days to recover under home isolation without hospitalisation. The patient identified as Milu Rajahansa, a resident of Basaloi under Barkote block in the district.
A new viral variant of the coronavirus, Delta Plus, was identified on June 11. It was recently classified as a variant of concern.
The Delta Plus variant is not that dangerous, but people must continue taking precautions and not lower their guards, cautioned Ajay Parida, the director of Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) in Bhubaneswar.
At a time when the Delta Plus variant of the Covid-19 virus has triggered fear and panic after the Centre tagged it as ‘Varinat of Concern’, the statement of a senior scientist and head of Odisha-based Institute of Life Science (ILS) has brought a sigh of relief.
Cautioning people of a possible third wave of the on going pandemic, the State Health Department has expressed concern over the detection of Delta Plus variant of Covid 19 in several other States, which has been tagged as the ‘variant of concern’.