India has become the second country in the world to pass the grim milestone of 20 million infections after the United States.

It took more than 10 months for India to add the first 10 million cases and just four months to add the second 10 million - more than double the pace of infection, which is fast spreading.

In the last 24 hours, India has added another 350,000 cases, slightly less than Monday. However, it is hardly a figure that gives any relief.

India's active cases now represent 17 per cent of the total caseload with more than three million people currently positive and over 16 million patients who have recovered.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-new-wuhan-virus-variant-found-in-india-382820">Watch |</a>

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The death toll is still mounting, with close to 3,500 deaths in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;But the bad news doesn't end there. There are reports of a new mutation called the "N440K variant" or the AP variant, a reference to the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh where it was first detected.

Everything about the AP variant is alarming as reports say the variant has already moved beyond Andhra Pradesh. It has been found in 20 to 30 per cent of the samples in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

The strain is said to be at least 15 times more virulent than the earlier ones, which means it spreads even faster. It has a shorter incubation period and the infection spreads much more rapidly within the human body.

More studies are needed to confirm these findings but, it is a worrying development, not just for India, but for the rest of the world because there's no telling which form and shape the virus takes next and vaccines are the only way to control it - not borders and flight bans.

India has become the second country in the world to pass the grim milestone of 20 million infections after the United States. It took more than 10 months for India to add the first 10 million cases and just four months to add the second 10 million - more than double the pace of infection, which is fast spreading.

India has become the second country in the world to pass the grim milestone of 20 million infections after the United States. It took more than 10 months for India to add the first 10 million cases and just four months to add the second 10 million - more than double the pace of infection, which is fast spreading. In the last 24 hours, India has added another 350,000 cases, slightly less than Monday. However, it is hardly a figure that gives any relief. India's active cases now represent 17 per cent of the total caseload with more than three million people currently positive and over 16 million patients who have recovered. Watch | The death toll is still mounting, with close to 3,500 deaths in the last 24 hours. But the bad news doesn't end there. There are reports of a new mutation called the "N440K variant" or the AP variant, a reference to the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh where it was first detected. Everything about the AP variant is alarming as reports say the variant has already moved beyond Andhra Pradesh. It has been found in 20 to 30 per cent of the samples in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The strain is said to be at least 15 times more virulent than the earlier ones, which means it spreads even faster. It has a shorter incubation period and the infection spreads much more rapidly within the human body. More studies are needed to confirm these findings but, it is a worrying development, not just for India, but for the rest of the world because there's no telling which form and shape the virus takes next and vaccines are the only way to control it - not borders and flight bans.

India's Andhra Pradesh COVID-19 variant: N440K is 15 times more virulent

The virus has been behaving differently and spreading faster. Earlier, the virus spread through droplets in the air through coughing or sneezing but now&nbsp;you can get infected just by speaking to a carrier.

So more people are getting infected and their condition is worsening faster. It gives doctors less time to respond.

There's a&nbsp;South African variant, UK variant, Brazilian variant and the double mutant.

While the extent of their spread remains unclear, experts believe all these variants are in wide circulation in India and they are making the job of India's frontline workers harder.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-indias-deadly-second-wave-mutants-are-exacerbating-the-pandemic-crisis-382819">Watch |</a>

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These mutations spread far more quickly than before, going by one estimate they can spread from one patient to the next - 20 to 50 per cent more easily. As a result, more people are getting infected. Earlier, a patient could easily isolate at home without putting other family members at risk. Now, entire families are getting infected.

Dr Dodul Mandal, a senior oncologist in Delhi, recently recovered after contracting the virus. Mandal's family was infected as well. Dr Mandal believes the behaviour of the virus has changed.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that patients suffering from a moderate or serious illness suffer from high and persistent fever. Some are developing blood clots, increasing&nbsp;the risk of death.

Beyond a persistent cough and loss of smell and taste, patients are now also complaining of headaches, conjunctivitis, rashes and diarrhoea.

Until last year, experts believed India saw a much milder strain of the virus but the newer variants are beating the immune response of the human body.

Even those who tested positive before and recovered are getting infected again.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted an investigation recently and found that reinfection is rare, but a real possibility. Out of 1,300 individuals which the ICMR assessed, 4.5 per cent were reinfected.

&nbsp;Experts believe these variants infect the cells of the body far more quickly. Patients now need oxygen in less than a week, with cases becoming severe in a matter of a few days, leading to more serious patients, increased hospitalisations and even deaths.

Hospitals are now adopting different protocols instead of sticking to a fixed formula to treat different patients.

2021 was supposed to be the beginning of the end of the pandemic but the virus is fighting back with mutations. And for healthcare workers in India, the task to defeat the virus just got tougher.

The virus has been behaving differently and spreading faster. Earlier, the virus spread through droplets in the air through coughing or sneezing but now you can get infected just by speaking to a carrier.

The virus has been behaving differently and spreading faster. Earlier, the virus spread through droplets in the air through coughing or sneezing but now you can get infected just by speaking to a carrier. So more people are getting infected and their condition is worsening faster. It gives doctors less time to respond. There's a South African variant, UK variant, Brazilian variant and the double mutant. While the extent of their spread remains unclear, experts believe all these variants are in wide circulation in India and they are making the job of India's frontline workers harder. Watch | These mutations spread far more quickly than before, going by one estimate they can spread from one patient to the next - 20 to 50 per cent more easily. As a result, more people are getting infected. Earlier, a patient could easily isolate at home without putting other family members at risk. Now, entire families are getting infected. Dr Dodul Mandal, a senior oncologist in Delhi, recently recovered after contracting the virus. Mandal's family was infected as well. Dr Mandal believes the behaviour of the virus has changed. Anecdotal evidence suggests that patients suffering from a moderate or serious illness suffer from high and persistent fever. Some are developing blood clots, increasing the risk of death. Beyond a persistent cough and loss of smell and taste, patients are now also complaining of headaches, conjunctivitis, rashes and diarrhoea. Until last year, experts believed India saw a much milder strain of the virus but the newer variants are beating the immune response of the human body. Even those who tested positive before and recovered are getting infected again. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducted an investigation recently and found that reinfection is rare, but a real possibility. Out of 1,300 individuals which the ICMR assessed, 4.5 per cent were reinfected. Experts believe these variants infect the cells of the body far more quickly. Patients now need oxygen in less than a week, with cases becoming severe in a matter of a few days, leading to more serious patients, increased hospitalisations and even deaths. Hospitals are now adopting different protocols instead of sticking to a fixed formula to treat different patients. 2021 was supposed to be the beginning of the end of the pandemic but the virus is fighting back with mutations. And for healthcare workers in India, the task to defeat the virus just got tougher.

Why coronavirus variants are proving to be fatal for patients in India

After India reported six cases of the mutant virus which had was reported in the UK, the Indian government said the vaccines will work against the variants detected in the UK and South Africa.

Watch:

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"There is no evidence that the current vaccines will fail to protect against the coronavirus variants," &nbsp;K. Vijay Raghavan, principal scientific advisor to the Indian government, said. &nbsp;

"Prior to the news of the UK variant came in, we had done roughly 5,000 genome sequences across labs. Now we will be significantly increasing that number and would be working in a coordinated manner," Rajesh Bhushan, the health secretary said.

The health secretary informed that the daily new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-reports-first-six-cases-of-mutant-coronavirus-from-britain-353077">coronavirus</a> cases had dropped to less than 17,000 after six months with daily deaths going down to less than 300 after six months.

The &nbsp;Rajesh Bhushan asserted that deaths were found to have occurred in 60 years&nbsp;&amp; above age group and 70 per cent of the deaths had occurred to males.

The health secretary said 63 per cent of total cases were reported in males &amp; 37 per cent cases in females with 8 per cent cases reported below the age of 17 years and 13 per cent in 18-25 yrs age group. The health secretary also informed that 39 per cent people were infected in the in 26-44 age group with 26 pr cent in 45-60 category and 14 per cent in the above 60-year category.

"Active cases in the country are less than 2.7 lakhs and is declining. Positivity rate in the country during the last week stood at only 2.25 per cent," Bhushan informed.

ICMR, meanwhile said it was important not to put too much "immune pressure" on the virus.&nbsp;

"We have to maintain judicious use of therapies which are going to benefit. If the benefit isn't established, we shouldn't use those therapies otherwise it will put pressure on the virus and it will tend to mutate more," he said.

After India reported six cases of the mutant virus which had was reported in the UK, the Indian government said the vaccines will work against the variants detected in the UK and South Africa.

After India reported six cases of the mutant virus which had was reported in the UK, the Indian government said the vaccines will work against the variants detected in the UK and South Africa. Watch: "There is no evidence that the current vaccines will fail to protect against the coronavirus variants," K. Vijay Raghavan, principal scientific advisor to the Indian government, said. "Prior to the news of the UK variant came in, we had done roughly 5,000 genome sequences across labs. Now we will be significantly increasing that number and would be working in a coordinated manner," Rajesh Bhushan, the health secretary said. The health secretary informed that the daily new coronavirus cases had dropped to less than 17,000 after six months with daily deaths going down to less than 300 after six months. The Rajesh Bhushan asserted that deaths were found to have occurred in 60 years & above age group and 70 per cent of the deaths had occurred to males. The health secretary said 63 per cent of total cases were reported in males & 37 per cent cases in females with 8 per cent cases reported below the age of 17 years and 13 per cent in 18-25 yrs age group. The health secretary also informed that 39 per cent people were infected in the in 26-44 age group with 26 pr cent in 45-60 category and 14 per cent in the above 60-year category. "Active cases in the country are less than 2.7 lakhs and is declining. Positivity rate in the country during the last week stood at only 2.25 per cent," Bhushan informed. ICMR, meanwhile said it was important not to put too much "immune pressure" on the virus. "We have to maintain judicious use of therapies which are going to benefit. If the benefit isn't established, we shouldn't use those therapies otherwise it will put pressure on the virus and it will tend to mutate more," he said.

No evidence current vaccines will fail against virus variants: Indian government