New Delta Variant Subtype Spreading Through UK

A new subtype of the Delta variant of COVID-19 is spreading through the UK. The new Delta variant could be between 10% and 15% more infectious than the current Delta variant. The subtype was first identified in July, and now represents around 7-8% of all COVID-19 cases in the UK.

Immunology Professor Danny Altmann explained that the new variant will need to be monitored closely, as it could overtake the current delta strain. “Because delta has now been the dominant mutant in several regions for some six months and not been displaced by any other variants, the hope has been that delta perhaps represented peak mutation performance achievable by the virus. AY.4 [the new variant] may be starting to raise doubts about this assertion,” Altmann said.