The Facts You Need to Know Regarding the COVID Delta Variant
Photo: Griffin Wooldridge / Pexels)
Although the alpha variant remains the most dominant variant in Canada, delta’s growth has accelerated, with the number of cases in some provinces doubling every six to 12 days. (Image: Tumisu / Pixabay)
To date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified four SARS-CoV-2 variants (VOC): Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1) and Delta.
What is a Variant?
Every virus, including the one that causes COVID-19, evolves. When a virus makes a copy of itself, it occasionally changes slightly; this is normal for a virus. These modifications are referred to as “mutations.” A virus with one or more new mutations is known as a “variant” of the original virus.
Where was the delta variant first detected?
The delta variant was first detected in India in December 2020 and is also known as B.1.617.2. It is one of three known sub-lineages of B.1.617 of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Data suggests that delta played a prominent role in the surge of COVID-19 cases in India in 2021.
When was the delta variant first detected in Canada?
After the first case of the delta strain detected in India in December 2020, it has since spread to at least 74 countries.
The variant first U.K. cases were detected in February 2021, where it has rapidly overtaken the so-called Alpha variant.
Dealt variant reached the U.S. on March 2021.
The variant was first discovered in Canada in early April in British Columbia. Although Alpha remains the most dominant variant in Canada, Delta’s growth has accelerated, with the number of cases in some provinces doubling every six to 12 days.
Is the delta variant more infectious?
One distinguishing characteristic is increased transmissibility, estimated to be 40-60% greater than that of the Alpha variant. The delta variant has multiple mutations, and researchers are focusing on three modifications from the original, which could make it easier for the virus to infect human cells.
More Hospitalizations!
A recent Scottish study found the risk of hospitalization doubled after Delta infection compared to Alpha, especially in people with five or more different health conditions.
Are Vaccines Effective?
According to data gathered by Public Health Scotland and published in the Lancet, at least two weeks after the second dose, protection against infection fell from 92 percent for the Alpha variant to 79 percent for the Delta variant for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and from 73 percent to 60 percent for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
In a U.K. study, Public Health England (PHE), an executive agency of the U.K.’s department of health, found the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to provide 88 percent protection against the Delta variant after the second dose, compared to 94 percent protection against the Alpha variant. The figures for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines were 67 and 74%, respectively.
Delta mortality toll.
The little data available is coming out of England, revealing 42 deaths caused by the delta variant. Of these, 23 were unvaccinated, seven died more than 21 days after receiving their first vaccine dose, and twelve died more than two weeks after receiving their second dose.
Conclusion
According to the PHE, “Further work remains underway to establish the (vaccines) level of protection against mortality from the Delta variant.”
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