All viruses change naturally over time, and Covid-19 is not an exception. When the virus was first identified in early 2020, it had undergone thousands of mutations. The mutated virus that is created in this way through mutations is called a variant. According to the World Health Organization, most mutations have little or no effect on the original structure of the virus. Over time, it became extinct. But some mutations occur in ways that help the virus survive and reproduce. The covid-19 delta variant is such a mutation that is more deadly than other variants. What is COVID Delta Variant? The Delta variant is one of the coronavirus variants that has emerged in India in the last few months. This specific variant is more contagious than the other variants and is believed to be more responsible for the second wave in Indian as well as the neighboring countries. The Delta variant has already spread to about 98 countries outside India, which is alarming. Read: Delta variant in children: Chattogram reveals troubling data Why is the Delta variant dangerous? How is it different from other variants? The difference is in the spike protein. However, The Delta variant does not have the N501Y or E484K mutations, which were thought to interfere with the effectiveness of the vaccine against the South African variant and the Brazilian variant. But it includes the L452R and P681R mutations, among other mutations. Based on laboratory data, it has been suggested that these two mutations may increase the rate of transmission of the virus and interfere with the effectiveness of antibodies against the virus. Read Europe in vaccination race against COVID-19′s delta variant Things we Need to Know About Delta Variant Scientists around the world are now testing the variant of the coronavirus identified in India. Nevertheless, the Delta variant has reached most of the countries, and first-world countries also started facing issues tackling the new variant. Let's see what you need to know about the Delta variant. Symptoms There are three new symptoms that emerged in those who are affected with the Delta variant. These are Colds, Headaches, and Sore throat. The symptoms may also include a mild fever. In the UK, people are now being asked to undergo a covid test whenever they have these three symptoms. A recent app-based study called the ZOE COVID Symptom Study, conducted by King's College of London found these new symptoms in most Covid patients. Read: What should I know about the delta variant? Spreads Rapidly It was first identified in December 2020, which spread rapidly in India and soon became dominant in India and Great Britain. At the end of June, Delta made up more than 20% of the cases in the USA, and by the end of July, it will be around 80%, estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it "the fastest and fittest." The Delta variant has been growing exponentially and more quickly. And that is why scientists and researchers all over the world have been emphasizing this. Who is at Risk? The people who are not vaccinated fully are at a high risk of getting affected by the Delta variant. However, the fully vaccinated people can also get affected by Delta, but in that case, the death date is relatively lower. Moreover, this variant is not more deadly and causes less damage to the health. But Delta variate is affecting the young people more as well as the kids. "A recent study from the United Kingdom showed that children and adults under 50 were 2.5 times more likely to become infected with Delta." Read Covid-19: Countries racing to vaccinate before Delta takes hold Do Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson Protect Against Delta? Although there are other vaccines too, there are three vaccines in the USA that offer some sort of protection against Delta, the CDC suggests. However, it is not known yet how effective they are and other vaccines. A study done in Scotland "suggested that the Pfizer vaccine's effectiveness might decrease slightly when faced with the delta variant and be about 79% effective." On the other hand, another study that appeared online suggested that vaccines from Johnson & Johnson is not as effective as Pfizer and Moderna. Therefore, judging by the quality, the more modern vaccines can be used, the better. Read: 'Dangerous period' with delta variant: WHO How to Fight Against Delta Variant? For now, vaccination is the ultimate protection against Delta. And fully vaccination can make you safe. At least it would not be deadly for the vaccinated people. Therefore, taking two doses of vaccines is recommended, and wait the recommended two weeks to make the vaccine effective. Research has shown that the corona mortality rates are higher in those countries where the rate of covid vaccination is not more than 5 percent. In a country like Israel, where 60 percent of the population has been vaccinated, the number of deaths and hospitalizations is negligible. So, vaccination is needed first of all. Comparison with Other Variants As per the current situation, it is fairly certain that the Delta variant has a higher transmission potential than other variants. But this variant is at least less powerful than the beta variant in terms of its ability to disrupt the effectiveness of serious diseases or vaccines. But the Delta variant is making its way over other variants due to its ability to cause extreme infections. Read Vaccine deliveries rising as delta virus variant slams Asia Final words More infections mean more serious diseases, more hospitalization, more deaths, and more dangerous new variants. So, at any cost, the Delta variant must be stopped with the help of any vaccine.  While not all vaccines are equally effective in preventing infection, most vaccines play an important role in preventing serious diseases, hospitalization, and death. In countries where a significant portion of the population has received two doses of the vaccine, delta variant infections are more common among people who have not been vaccinated. And since it is not possible to provide vaccinations in line with the rate of transmission of the virus, hygiene, and social distance should not be forgotten. Furthermore, those who are being vaccinated need to make sure they are completing two doses. Read Brazil reopens amid looming threat from delta variant

India’s surge in coronavirus cases is having a dangerous effect on neighboring Bangladesh. Health experts warn of imminent vaccine shortages just as the country should be stepping up its vaccination drive, and as more contagious virus variants are beginning to be detected. On Saturday, health authorities said that for the first time, a coronavirus variant originally identified in India was detected in Bangladesh, without providing further details. For weeks, South African variants have dominated the samples sequenced in Bangladesh. There are concerns that these versions spread more easily and that first-generation vaccines could be less effective against them. Experts say that declining infections in Bangladesh over the last two weeks compared to March and early April — for reasons that aren’t fully understood — provided the perfect opportunity for the nation to scale up vaccinations. Also read: Bangladesh detects first case of Indian Coronavirus strain “This is the time to vaccinate, keep infections low and make sure that new variants don’t emerge here,” said Senjuti Saha, a scientist at the Child Health Research Foundation in Bangladesh, who is also sequencing the virus. However, India has banned the export of vaccines as it grapples with the crisis at home. The country’s Serum Institute was supposed to supply 30 million vaccine doses — 5 million doses a month — to Bangladesh by June. But the institute has only supplied 7 million doses and has suspended further shipments since February. “It’s caused a real problem,” said Dr. A.S.M. Alamgir, a scientist with the government’s Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research. Also read: Border with India to remain shut for another 14 days Fearing shortages, the government late last month stopped allowing people to register for a first vaccine dose, and the administration of second doses is also being hampered. The densely-populated country of 160 million is desperately seeking new avenues for vaccines other than India, and is attempting to produce Russian and Chinese vaccines at home by bringing technology from both countries. Bangladesh is expecting 500,000 doses of Chinese vaccines next week as a gift from Beijing, and has also sought help from the United States. Dr. Mustafizur Rahman, a scientist of the Dhaka-based International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, said threats from new variants remained a big concern, especially when vaccines are not available. Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 45 more deaths with 1285 new cases Although the border with India is closed to people, goods continue to cross. Virus sequencing in Bangladesh, like other countries including the U.S., has been scant. This means there could easily be blind spots. “We can’t rule out that the Indian variant would not make a new wave in Bangladesh. We have a porous border with India,” Alamgir said. Since March of last year, when the first COVID-19 case was detected in Bangladesh, the country has reported 770,842 confirmed virus cases and 11,833 deaths. Also read: India's surge hits southern states, prompts more lockdowns A nationwide lockdown has been extended until at least May 16, but many businesses, markets and local transportation remain crowded. Although inter-city travel is banned, tens of thousands are expected to leave the capital of Dhaka for their home villages to celebrate next week’s Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. “If we fail to maintain safety procedures across the country, the virus will make its natural progression, that’s for sure,” he said.

A confirmed case of Indian Coronavirus strain has been detected in Bangladesh, says the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research(IEDCR). "The Indian variant of Coronavirus was detected in a sample test at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. It has been published on Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data(GSID)," said chief scientific officer of IEDCR ASM Alamgir. Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) DG Dr ABM Khurshid Alam also told the media that the Indian variant of Coronavirus has been found in Bangladesh. The infected patients returned from India. They had been there for treatment, and now they’re staying in Jeshore,” he added. Professor Nasima Sultana, additional director general of the institution, also confirmed the development at a press conference in the afternoon. She said, “Jessore University of Science and Technology and IEDCR conducted separate examinations on the samples of 8 persons in Jessore. The Indian variant was  found in 2 of them by both the institutions.” Also read: Border with India to remain shut for another 14 days “ Besides, 4 other samples tested there were found very similar to that of the Indian strain,” she added. Besides, the DGHS said 60 of India returnees, who are now there in institutional quarantine, came here after getting infected there. But it is not sure yet whether they were infected with the Indian variant, it said. The Genome Centre of Jessore University of Science and Technology also confirmed the findings through a press release today. According to the press release, three among 16 Indian returnees tested positive for Covid-19 recently after entering Bangladesh. Their samples were collected from Jessore General Hospital and sent to the university lab on May 6. A research team, led by the Assistant Director of the Genome Centre Dr Md Iqbal Kabir identified  the Indian Covid variant in two of the collected samples through sequencing. Earlier, on May 3, the DGHS said the government would be confirmed within a few days whether the highly contagious Indian variant of coronavirus has already reached Bangladesh as an investigation was on in this regard. Also read: Indian Covid Strain: Two more cases identified in Jessore Speaking at a virtual press briefing, DGHS spokesperson Dr Nazmul Islam, said, "We may be able to say it in a few days whether the Indian strain of Covid-19 has come to Bangladesh or not." He said the samples of those who tested positive for coronavirus after entering Bangladesh from India are being collected. “These samples are being sent for genome sequencing…we’ll share it with you immediately after receiving the report.” India is experiencing a horrific Covid situation as its crematoriums and burial grounds are being overwhelmed by the devastating new surge of infections tearing through the populous country with terrifying speed, depleting the supply of life-saving oxygen to critical levels and leaving patients to die while waiting in line to see doctors, reports AP from New Delhi. India recorded over 4 lakh new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 8 am Saturday, taking the country’s total caseload to over 2.18 crore. Out of these, over 37 lakh cases are currently active while over 1.79 crore people have recovered. With 4,187 new deaths, the toll now stands at over 2.38 lakh. At least 14 states are reporting cases in five figures. Also read: India's surge hits southern states, prompts more lockdowns Maharashtra reported about 54,000 cases, Karnataka had nearly 49,000, while Kerala had over 38,000. On April 26, Bangladesh closed its border with India for any kind of movement except that of cargoes for the next 14 day to prevent the spread of the deadly Coronavirus. The Indian variant of Covid-19 viruses mutate all the time, producing different versions of themselves. Most of these mutations are insignificant - and some may even make the virus less dangerous - but others can make it more contagious and harder to vaccinate against. The original India variant - officially known as B.1.617 - was first detected in October, reports the  BBC. That version has now been re-characterised as three different subtypes, all with slightly different genetic mutations. India has said a new variant of the coronavirus first discovered there in March may be linked to a deadly second wave, according to another BBC report. Samples containing the "double mutant"- or B.1.617 variant - have been found in several states with high case numbers. An official at the National Centre for Disease Control said, however, that they had still been unable to fully establish a correlation. A double mutant is when two mutations come together in the same virus.