With Covid-19 now recognized as multiple variations, the Delta variant is currently the most widespread and dominant variant that has escalated the level of the pandemic to a more horrifying level.
The Delta variant, which is tagged to have originated in India, currently dominates the number of cases in Bangladesh and across the world. 78 per cent of Covid cases in the country in the running month are of the Delta variant according to the IEDCR. According to the WHO, the variant has spread to at least 98 countries and is continuing to evolve and mutate.
Almost all versions of the variant have crossed borders into other countries. The Delta variant however, could be called a version of an exclusive pandemic on its own.
Bangladesh currently stands on its worst stage of the pandemic. The statistics are beyond horrifying and the daily numbers keep breaking and making new records. Imagining over 200 deaths and exceeding 10000 infections in a day may have been a nightmare last year, but is a reality today.
The Covid-19 virus initially began in the city of Wuhan in China with its first case. Leading from that, the whole world experienced its effects and the global pandemic was declared. However, it was not long before the virus was branded to be ‘Chinese’.
In a study published in the world-renowned journal Nature,
researchers claim that coronavirus has reached the pinnacle
of energy, which is currently wreaking havoc worldwide in the
form of the Delta variant
The scenario turned into a blame game for many individuals, groups and even nations. Tapping into the human conscience, it would be difficult to understand how inconsiderate that trial of thought really was. The world was open to a different and a newer form of discrimination towards the people and the whole of the Asian nation.
The whole world is victim of the phenomena. Numerous conspiracy theories were established and it spread like wildfire in a world stuck in quarantine. Throughout history, the population of the world has excelled in ‘generalisation’. The terms may sound sophisticated and innocent but it has been the root of many a conflict starting from alleys to across borders.
Blaming a collective group for the actions or mistakes of individuals or on it ground of origin does sound harsh but is more common than one could imagine. Consequentially, the whole nation of China became a model of debate regarding the source of the virus that brought the world to its knees.
A more subtle but closer observation suggests that similarly, it would also be insensitive to tag this dominant variant as ‘Indian’. However, the world is indulged into many affairs at the moment compared to the last year but the blame game could begin at the spark of a light. It was very important to take a step to name the variants because otherwise, a certain classification was on route; classifying a variant based on its place of origin. The words in the name may not hold the place responsible for it but more often than not, the tone surely does so.
The world is a sufferer of the ongoing effects of the virus; a virus that originated from China but is not Chinese. The world bleeds further in the name of its most dominant variant yet, the Delta variant; a variant that originated from India but is not Indian.
In the last year and a half, the coronavirus has put the world in a devastating state. In addition to human life, social and economic management has also undergone major changes. As per the situation, there seems to be no easy way out of this pandemic.
The catastrophe of the variant that took place in India is considered to be the main reason behind the rapid spread of coronavirus infection there. Its transmission rate is 60 percent higher than Alpha or other variants. The latest conversion of the Corona Delta variant is the ‘Delta Plus’ variant; more contagious than the Delta variant.
Apart from India, this modified 'Delta Plus' variant has also been found in other countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.
When the variant appeared in India, it was feared that Bangladesh would be affected by it as well. In Bangladesh, this corona variant has spread first to the border districts and later to other districts and cities.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the vaccine must be administered to protect against the Delta Plus variant because it has been seen that variant is spreading more among the people who have not been vaccinated.
WHO suggests that vaccination alone is not enough; other protective measures including the use of masks should be mandatory as well. On a positive note, 3.6 million doses of vaccines came into the country recently. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has tagged vaccination as top priority and has claimed that everyone would be provided for no matter what the cost. One month after the first dose of the vaccine, 41 percent of people have symptoms of developing antibodies. Researchers tested the sample two weeks after the second dose of the vaccine and found evidence of antibodies in 93 percent of the vaccine recipients.
In a study published in the world-renowned journal Nature, researchers claim that coronavirus has reached the pinnacle of energy, which is currently wreaking havoc worldwide in the form of the Delta variant.
However, its power is said to be gradually deteriorating. Study suggests that the virus has reached a stage where it cannot be converted for further transmission. This is a variant will remain as ‘dominant strain’ for some time to come. Nevertheless, it is a matter of time to be sure whether the Delta variant is that variant or not because it has not yet reached its potential. However, scientists believe that it will happen soon.
Tauhidur Rahman Afridi works with Bangladesh Post