Three takeaways from the emergence of the ‘Delta Plus’ coronavirus variant

3 takeaways from the emergence of the ‘Delta Plus’ coronavirus variant - STAT Experts say Delta Plus is more of a headache than a devastating gamechanger in the scope of the coronavirus pandemic. Andrew Joseph STAT

Yet another version of the coronavirus is getting global attention, this one dubbed AY.4.2. It appears that it could be slightly more transmissible than the Delta variant — a marginal difference that experts say is more of a headache than a devastating gamechanger in the scope of the pandemic. Still, the emergence of AY.4.2 offers lessons about the ongoing evolution of the pathogen.

AY.4.2 has caused some alarm because its prevalence is building up in the United Kingdom, where it’s even gained ground on the remarkably transmissible Delta variant. It now accounts for about 10% of sequenced virus samples in England.

Scientists are still trying to determine what, if any, competitive advantage the newer form of the virus has over Delta, and there are a number of possible explanations for AY.4.2’s increasing frequency. ...