The strain does not appear to result in more severe disease or render vaccines less effective, the U.K.
The subvariant, which had previously been dubbed "Delta Plus" or "AY.4.2," was first detected in England back in July.
Data from the UKHSA shows an estimated 6 per cent of recent COVID-19 cases in the U.K., where case numbers have been surging, are of this Delta subvariant.
"Viruses mutate often and at random, and it is not unexpected that new variants will continue to arise as the pandemic goes on, particularly while the case rate remains high," UKHSA chief executive Dr.
More investigation is needed to confirm if the strain, which has also been detected in Canada and the U.S., is indeed more contagious than the Delta variant, the UKHSA says.
"As such it hasn't been driving the recent increase in case numbers in the U.K."
If the subvariant is in fact more transmissible, Balloux said the difference would not be the same as the one brought on by the Delta variant, which was far more contagious than any strain in circulation at the time
A small number of cases of the new strain have popped up in Canada, but it's unclear if it's more contagious than the Delta variant, according to Dr
Rasmussen said the U.K.'s robust genomic surveillance, which sequences about 10 per cent of the positive COVID-19 cases they have, may be a reason why they have detected more cases
Rasmussen also believes it's likely the vaccines currently deployed in Canada will be effective against the subvariant
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