The Delta variant (delta), also known as B.1.617.2, is the virus that causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) and spreads more easily, according to the CDC. The strain has mutations on spike protein, it is more likely to infect human cells. This means that if people are infected with a virus that is easy to spread, they may be more contagious. In the United States, it is now the most common strain.
Delta variant has mutations in the gene encoding SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, resulting in T478K, P681R, and L452R substitution, which is known to affect viral transmission and whether it can be replaced by the previously circulating COVID-19 virus.
According to the Washington Post, the infection rate of the Delta variant is about 50% higher than that of the Alpha variant first discovered in the UK. Alpha, also known as B.1.1.7, is already 50% stronger than the coronavirus first discovered in China in 2019.
According to Yale Medicine, ordinary people infected with the Delta will spread the virus to three to four other people, compared to one or two people infected with the original coronavirus strain. While research is still ongoing, the Delta variant may be able to evade the protection of vaccines and some COVID-19 treatments.
What are the symptoms of the Delta variant?
The symptoms of the Delta variant appear to be the same as those of the original COVID-19, such as a persistent cough, headache, fever, and sore throat. On the other hand, doctors are witnessing people getting sicker faster, especially among young people.
According to data from the ZOE COVID Symptoms Study, COVID-19 patients in the UK reported that some of Delta’s symptoms were slightly different. Coughing and loss of smell seem less common. According to one study, headache, sore throat and runny nose are the most common symptoms.
How Dangerous Is the Delta Variant
Delta VAriant (B.1.617.2), was identified in India for the first time in December 2020. This particular variant spread to over 98 countries around the world in a matter of months, becoming the dominant variant in more than a dozen of them, including India, the United Kingdom, Scotland, Israel, and the United States.
Delta is now responsible for more than 83% of COVID-19 cases reported in the United States, and only 48% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated, and the conditions for SARS-CoV-2 to continue to develop and spread are ripe. With each new variant found, three basic questions continue to drive research.
A large number of viruses means that it has more chance of infecting a person’s cells, and the more the Delta variant spreads in the community, the more likely an individual is to come into contact with an infected person and be bombarded with enough coronavirus to make them infected.
Is the Delta variant more dangerous for young people?
There are still many scientists who do not know about the Delta variant, but it is safe to say that for people of all ages, young and old, it is more contagious.
Based on anecdotal evidence, hospitals at Texas Medical Center are now seeing more young patients with severe COVID-19 cases. According to Bill McKeon, CEO of Texas Medical Center,” the average age of our Icu used to be in its 60s” and “now it’s in its 30s”.
Many people believe that this is because older people are more likely to get vaccinated, and vaccinated people will not get sick like unvaccinated people. According to McKeon, more than 90% of people hospitalized due to COVID are not vaccinated. He added that people who have not yet been vaccinated are”playing with their lives.”
What is the Delta Plus variant?
Recently, Delta plus is classified as a variant of concern. The chief WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that “Delta is the most transmissible of the variants identified so far, has been identified in at least 85 countries, and is spreading rapidly among unvaccinated populations”.
The Delta Plus, also known as B.1.617.2.1 or AY.1, is considered a “subvariant” of the Delta version, according to CBS News. It has a mutation that allows the virus to attack lung cells and potentially escape vaccines.
Difference between Delta and Delta Plus Variant of COVID-19
Delta is a variant of concern and a variant of interest. On the other hand, Delta Plus or B.1.617.2.1 is a Delta variant and is also considered a concern variant. In the United Kingdom, the delta spread rapidly. the variant is also spreading to other countries.
Delta was first reported in India, and Delta Plus was first reported in the bulletin of the British Department of Public Health on June 11. In Mysuru, Karnataka, the first case of the Delta Plus variant of Covid-19 was reported. Health Minister K Sudhakar said: “The infected person is asymptomatic, and none of his contacts are infected with the virus.”
What should I do to stay safe?
First of all, if you have not been vaccinated, please get vaccinated. It is important to remember that you will not be fully protected until at least a week or two after the second dose. Vaccination is still the most effective and safe way to protect yourself and those around you.
Secondly, pay close attention to the weather in your area. If cases are on the rise in your area, please pay attention to the recommendations of the local authorities. Even if you are vaccinated, if the number of cases increases, please continue to shelter indoors, especially in areas with low vaccination rates.
The reason for this is that if the Delta variant is on the rise in your area, the vaccine will protect you from serious diseases, but you may still infect others. Vaccines have been shown to reduce transmission, but the Delta variant may reduce this protection.
In this global health crisis, we have come a long way, and after such a long and arduous journey, it is understandable that people are looking for comfort and connection. Vaccination has been a great success and continues to protect people.
Should you still wear a mask due to the variant?
According to CNBC, with the rapid spread of the delta variant, the World Health Organization recommends that fully vaccinated people continue to wear masks, maintain social distance, and take other COVID-19 pandemic safety measures.
“People can’t be considered safe just because they have received two doses. They must continue to protect themselves, ” said Dr. Mariangela Simao, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for access to medicines and health products, at a press conference at WHO headquarters in Geneva.
According to Los Angeles County, everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated, should wear a mask indoors, and the county is one of the largest and most populous counties in the country. According to Fauci, the CDC’s recommendations on wearing masks are unlikely to change unless new evidence emerges and needs to be updated.
However, according to Fauci, some elderly people or people with potential diseases may be more relieved to wear masks in areas where infections are rising.
Prevention of Delta Varian
Although WHO has not yet issued specific prevention recommendations for Delta, the recommended non-drug measures to prevent wild-type COVID-19 should still be effective. These would include washing hands, wearing a mask, avoiding touching the mouth, nose, or eyes, keep a safe distance from others, avoid crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation, especially where people talk, test if symptoms occur, and if you are sick.
Public health officials should continue to use tests to find infected people, track their contacts, and isolate those who test positive or have been exposed. The potential risks of any large-scale aggregation should be assessed and plans should be made to mitigate these risks.
According to Anurag Agrawal, Director of the Institute of Genomics and Integrated Biology (IGIB), the study on the effectiveness of the available vaccines on lineage B.1.617 suggests that post-vaccination, infection is milder after vaccination.