The Latest News Facts about Delta Variant is causing concern to health experts and many nations who are fighting to stop the spread. Despite the vaccination drive, vaccine hesitancy and lack of access to vaccines are hurting the immunization program.
The history of Delta Variant: The B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was identified in India in late 2020 and has subsequently been detected in approximately 60 countries.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday said that Delta, a highly transmissible COVID-19 variant first identified in India and currently sweeping through the United Kingdom, now makes up at least 10% of all US cases. On May 22, the variant had made up only 2.7% of cases.
The Latest News Facts about Delta Variant Origin : (Delta) Variant COVID-19 Outbreak Associated with a Gymnastics Facility
The CDC also now designated Delta as a variant of concern, which means the agency officially recognizes that the variant may carry a risk of more severe illness and transmissibility. In addition to Delta, the CDC has noted five other variants of concern.
According to Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of the school of public health at Brown University, US, The Delta variant is so far the most contagious version of the virus so far and is much more easily contracted than previous iterations, Jha said. Unvaccinated individuals are contracting the virus with shorter exposure times than before, even if they are more than six feet away.
- how long does delta variant last – The studies are still underway, as the mutation of the virus is gaining dominance in various parts of the world and the data is still being studied. In may regions is it known to have the highest number of cases.
- where is the delta variant covid from – According to reports it originated from India and latest reports also suggest from Japan
- delta variant covid vaccine – India’s Indigenous vaccine COVAXIN and Covishield has shown good responses against delta variants.
- which vaccine is effective against delta variant – COVAXIN and few other vaccines have shown good response at varying percentages. Studies are ongoing about the longevity
- what is delta variant -The B.1.617.2 variant has a potentially higher rate of transmission than other variants
- delta variant vaccine – Studies are underway in many parts of the world and research organisation. But some currently available vaccine like COVAXIN have been found to induce good immune response against delta variant.
- what is delta variant symptoms – the symptoms are similar to earlier variants but it affects people differently in different regions.
The B.1.617.2 variant has a potentially higher rate of transmission than other variants. During May 12–18, 2021, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Acute Disease Service (ADS) was notified by the OSDH Public Health Laboratory (PHL) of 21 SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 specimens temporally and geographically clustered in central Oklahoma. Public health surveillance data indicated that these cases were associated with a local gymnastics facility (facility A).
Dr. Ashish K Jha, health expert talks about Delta Variant and wrote on his twitter
Why is the delta variant more transmissible?
Higher viral load and shorter incubation period part of the answer
How do we counter it?
Getting fully vaccinated
OSDH ADS and local health department staff members reinterviewed persons with B.1.617.2 variant–positive laboratory results and conducted contact tracing.
Forty-seven COVID-19 cases (age range = 5–58 years), including 21 laboratory-confirmed B.1.617.2 variant and 26 epidemiologically linked cases, were associated with this outbreak during April 15–May 3, 2021. Cases occurred among 10 of 16 gymnast cohorts* and three staff members; secondary cases occurred in seven start highlight(33%)end highlight of 26 start highlight interviewedend highlight households with outbreak-associated cases.
Latest News Facts about Delta Variant in India
Delta Variant Latest News Facts in India suggest that the Delta variant was primarily responsible for the second wave of COVID-19 in the country, accounting for over 80 per cent of new cases, Dr N K Arora, co-chair of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium said, underlining that the cases may go up if a new, more infectious variant comes.
The variant is also around 40-60 percent more transmissible than its predecessor, Alpha variant, and has already spread to more than 80 countries, including the UK, the US and Singapore.
The Delta Plus variant—AY.1 and AY.2—has so far been detected in 55-60 cases across 11 states, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh and is still being studied for its transmissibility, virulence, and vaccine escape characteristics, Dr Arora said, according to a Union Health Ministry statement.