New Delta variant detected: How do virus variants develop?

Recently, Israel reported a new Delta variant which has affected an alarming number of its citizens. Known as the AY 4.2, this variant was found in several European countries including the UK.  The variant found in Israel was traced to a young boy who had entered the country from Europe. The boy has since been quarantined, and measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the AY 4.2 variant. 

This has not been the first coronavirus variant. With another wave being projected even for India, it seems like the virus might be sticking around for longer through the development of these variants. Here is a close look at how variants of viruses develop. 

Firstly, what is a virus? 
Viruses are microscopic organisms. They are quite small in size, even smaller than bacteria, and are not visible to the naked eye. They do not possess the ability to reproduce and thrive independently. In order to do so, they need a host body.  

What are virus variants? 
When a virus enters a host body, it makes multiple copies of itself. It attacks the cells in the body and replicates itself. When it is doing this, sometimes, the virus itself changes. These changes which occur are referred to as mutations. A virus which has these mutations is known as a variant of the original virus. In almost all cases, it is extremely normal for a virus to mutate and develop variants.  

A better way to understand this is through an analogy. Imagine that you are playing the game ‘Chinese whisper’ with your friends. The first person whispers a sentence in the ear of the person sitting beside them. Then, this sentence is passed on to the others sitting in the group. In the end, on most occasions, it is seen that the original sentence has been changed. Similarly, the virus mutates itself and variants are formed. 

How do variants impact viruses? 
For the most part, variants are not strong enough to have an impact on the working of a virus or its ability to cause infections and spread diseases. However, a variant can possibly make the virus spread more easily, thus making it more easily transmittable. It can also affect the response of an infected individual to the treatment provided and cause more severe illness from the virus. Sometimes, variants can do the opposite and have a relatively positive effect. For example, they can dilute the severity of the illness or slow down the rate of transmission.