With the festive season around the corner, health experts have warned of the new Delta plus sub-variant, AY.4.2, which spreads faster than earlier variants, and urged people to follow social distancing norms and use masks. They say those who are unvaccinated are at higher risk of contracting it. The variant causes neurological problems and Covid encephalitis and has till date, affected 25 people in India.

Dr Wiqar Shaikh, professor of medicine, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, explained that a mutation is the result of the virus making an error during multiplication/reproduction, which causes changes in its genetic code. A mutation could be more infective and cause more deaths compared to the original virus. Dr Shaikh expressed concern that more than 25 cases of AY.4.2 have been confirmed in India and there were reports coming in from Karnataka and few other states.