A study by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology has found that besides B1.617 and B1.618, a new variant by the name of N440K has been discovered. First discovered in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, the variant is said to be at least 10 times more infectious.

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It's said that the variant must have started its spread in the month of March or even before. One-third of the infections in the Telugu States are attributed to this variant.

As per an ET report, the variant is 10 to 1000 times more infectious. Wrote Dr. Lakshmi Lavanya Alapati, "N440K mutant affecting lungs more specifically and unwell-younger and obese are being at risk - quickly deteriorating with need of oxygen and ventilator."

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There is a view that Indians are susceptible to high viral doses. Writes Vincent Rajkumar, Editor, Blood Cancer Journal, "Viral dose seems to be high among Indians. With crowding and high prevalence, people are at risk of multiple exposures, and at high dose. This sets off a vicious cycle of high dose exposure. A large number of healthcare workers are getting seriously ill in India."