New variants - why no further variants since Delta?

[bubblicious3]

As above really - I think a couple have been mentioned but none seem to have taken root in the same way. It seems surprising that there hasn't been another dominant variant 🤷🏼‍♀️

I think deltanis far too transmissible for anyone to become dominant over that. Any variant that is more transmissible than delta will likely be much less deadly.

There have been other variants. There is one at the moment that is more transmissible.

The theory is that the virus like any other biological entity has limits how much it can evolve, it isn't a super bug defining laws of biology. If Delta is the most successful variant that can arise out of the RNA in SARs-CoV-2, it will out-compete others with only minor genetic drift possible afterwards.

There are many further variants, including Lamda, Mu, Kappa etc (see the list linked) just none so far that have outpaced Delta as the dominant variant.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-variants-genomically-confirmed-case-numbers/variants-distribution-of-case-data-17-september-2021

Could it be because the widespread vaccines have reduced transmission and therefore mutations?

It's because delta is so transmissible so other variants aren't taking off

It a clever bloody virus though...I honestly thought the next one was going to be transmitted via eye contact!

Interestingly, spanish news reporting first cases of delta plus now arriving in Spain, first identified in the UK early summer. But I haven’t read anything bout that in UK news.

Delta Plus or AY4.2 - a “subvariant” or strain of the Delta variant which is more transmissible

TOUCH WOOD!

I'm looking forward to Foxtrot (snazzy) but wondering how they'll handle it if we ever get as far as India... given they came up with the system to avoid demonising individual countries. What if the India variant comes from Pakistan? Diplomatic time bomb.

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

I'm looking forward to Foxtrot (snazzy) but wondering how they'll handle it if we ever get as far as India... given they came up with the system to avoid demonising individual countries. What if the India variant comes from Pakistan? Diplomatic time bomb.

Err you know the naming convention is the Greek alphabet not the phonetic alphabet right?

So there will never be a Foxtrot or an India...

We've honestly been on Delta so long that I had forgotten.

Thanks everyone, that's interesting.

@bluejelly

Could it be because the widespread vaccines have reduced transmission and therefore mutations?

Doubtful, considering most of the world aren’t vaccinated. Many developing countries haven’t even managed to vaccinate their frontline health workers and vulnerable yet. And yet we’re on our third doses. Go us!

Well this post didn't age that well! Here comes the new, more transmissible variant

Yep, you definitely spoke too soon there!