Scientists are closely watching a new mutation of the delta variant

Scientists are closely watching a new mutation of the delta variant

A new mutation of the delta variant has been detected, but it may not be time to panic yet. On Oct. 21, the UK health security agency (HSA) designated AY.4.2, a mutation of the B.1.617.2 delta strain, as a variant under investigation (pdf). The delta variant was first found in India in October 2020 and its AY lineage is found in about 70% of all samples sequenced.