Gandhinagar, Jun 26 (IANS): Two patients, infected with cpronavirus' Delta Plus variant - listed as 'a variant of concern', have been detected in Gujarat, as per data disclosed by the Union Health Ministry.

Those two people are from Surat and Vadodara, but according to the information available, have been treated and are known to be out of danger.

But the real cause of worry for Surat administration is that neighbouring Maharashtra has found that out of the total 20 persons identified to be infected with Delta Plus variant in the state, the travel history of two has been traced back to Surat.

The Union Health Ministry said the country has a total of 48 cases of the strain, detected from 45,000 samples that were sequenced, spread across 10 states and Union Territories - Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Rajasthan and Karnataka, as well as Jammu and Kashmir.

Delta plus variant is a mutation of the dreaded Delta variant (B1.617.2), which created havoc during the second wave of covid-19 in the entire country in April-May. According to some health experts, the new mutation can be the cause of the feared third wave of the pandemic.