COVID-19 - The Delta Variant
Viruses constantly change through mutation. When a virus has one or more new mutations it’s called a variant of the original virus. Currently, several variants of the SARS-CoV-2 that causes coronavirus disease are creating concern.
The Delta variant is a variant of concern that WHO is tracking and monitoring around the world since it has increased transmissibility. Delta is spreading 50% faster than Alpha, which was 50% more contagious than the original strain of SARS-CoV-2.
The first Delta case was identified in December 2020, and the strain spread rapidly, becoming the dominant strain of the virus in both India and then Great Britain. This variant might reduce the effectiveness of some monoclonal antibody treatments and the antibodies generated by a COVID-19 vaccine. The most important thing you can do to protect yourself from Delta is to get fully vaccinated.
There are a number of factors that are contributing to increased transmission around the world:
1. Variants of concern, including the Delta variant
2. Increased social mixing which increases the number of contacts that individuals have.
3. Inappropriate use of public health and social measures
4. Uneven and inequitable distribution of vaccines.
