Russian authorities have reported the discovery of cases infected with the AY.4.2 variant, a sublineage of the Delta variant that appears to spread more effectively.
Kamil Khafizov, a scientist from the Russian government, stated that the AY.4.2 Delta variant spreads approximately 10% faster than the original Delta variant, as reported by Reuters on October 21.
Khafizov believes that the AY.4.2 variant has spread widely and is responsible for record-high infection and death rates in Russia. The Russian scientist opined that AY.4.2 could eventually replace the Delta variant, although this process is likely to take time.
“Vaccines remain sufficiently effective against this new variant of the virus. This variant does not have significant differences that would alter its interaction with antibodies,” Khafizov stated.
Healthcare workers caring for Covid-19 patients at Sklifosovsky Hospital, Moscow. (Photo: AFP).
Previously, UK authorities reported a rapid increase in AY.4.2 cases in the country. The UK Health Security Agency indicated that AY.4.2 accounted for 6% of all samples sequenced since September 27.
However, in a statement on October 20, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid noted that there is currently no evidence that the AY.4.2 variant poses a greater threat than Delta.
Nikolay Kryuchkov, an immunology expert from Russia, mentioned that Delta and its sublineages will continue to be the predominant virus strains. In the future, they may evolve to adapt to various vaccines, potentially reducing vaccine efficacy to just above 50%.
“But I believe there will be no breakthrough mutations, as the coronavirus, like any entity, has limits to its evolutionary capacity, and its breakthrough mutation has already occurred,” Kryuchkov stated.
In Israel, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held an emergency meeting with health officials on the evening of October 20 to discuss the AY.4.2 variant.
The meeting was convened after the Israeli Health Ministry confirmed the first case of the AY.4.2 variant at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on September 19.
This case involved an 11-year-old boy from Europe who has since been isolated, with no additional contacts identified.
After the meeting, Bennett stated that officials would “closely monitor” developments surrounding the new variant to maintain Israel’s current low Covid-19 infection rates.
Prime Minister Bennett called for enhanced epidemiological investigations into the new variant and urged communication with other countries that have detected this variant.
