COVID-19, Delta Variant, What Is It All About?

Originated in Wuhan, COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory syndrome and a new type of the coronavirus. The outbreak started in December 2019 in Wuhan and quickly spread around the world, eventually causing an outbreak. COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 and can trigger respiratory tract infections.

Mutations of the COVID-19 Virus

As the world adjusted and tried to defend itself from the threat of the virus, COVID-19 evolved and mutated into new variations. When COVID-19 became a pandemic, it circulated in different populations and caused many infections, thus increasing the likelihood of mutating the disease. The more it spread, the more it replicated itself and opened the virus into different opportunities to undergo changes.

COVID-19’s latest mutation is the Delta Variant and is known to cause more infections and spread faster than the earlier forms of the virus. Thankfully, vaccines that were developed to protect the body from the severe effects of the earlier variants of the virus are also effective in reducing the risk of contracting the Delta Variant of COVID-19.

Top Things You Need to Know About the Covid-19 Delta Variant

Virus variants are expected to occur as it continues to spread in the population. Taking the necessary measures to reduce the spread of the infection, through vaccinations helps slow down the spread of the virus. It slows down the emergence of new variants too.

The Delta variant is currently the most predominant variant of the virus in the United States. It causes more infections and spreads faster than any of the earlier variants of COVID-19. This variant is also known to cause more severe symptoms, especially for unvaccinated people. Studies even suggest that patients infected with the Delta variant are likely to be hospitalized compared to patients infected with the Alpha or the original variant of the COVID-19 virus.

The Delta variant causes similar COVID-19 symptoms like fevers and chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, difficulty in breathing, sore throat, loss of taste and smell, vomiting and diarrhea to name a few. However, with the Alpha and the Delta variant, it may lead to severe symptoms, illness and death.

Similar to other variants, wearing masks is an effective way in reducing the spread of the Delta variant. Using masks is also recommended for people with underlying medical conditions and weak immune systems even if they are fully vaccinated. Getting fully vaccinated is also not an excuse for not wearing a mask.

Additionally, as we all know, even fully vaccinated people can carry the COVID-19 virus. Even vaccinated people can spread the virus too.

In earlier variants of the virus, lower amounts of viral genetic material were found in samples taken from vaccinated carriers compared to the ones who do not have the vaccine. For those fully vaccinated people  and unvaccinated individuals infected with the Delta variant, there were similar amounts of viral genetic material found. However, even with the same amount of viral genetic material found, fully vaccinated people will likely spread the Delta variant for less time than unvaccinated individuals.

Vaccines for the Delta Variant of COVID-19

Vaccines developed in the United States are highly effective and can protect an individual from acquiring COVID-19, including the Delta variant. These vaccines, approved and authorized for use are very highly effective at preventing the worst symptoms of the disease that commonly leads to severe adverse effects and death. However, even with vaccines, a person can still carry the variant and become infected with the disease. Breakthrough infections experienced by fully vaccinated individuals are less serious and do not usually lead to death.

Researchers and scientists are continuously classifying different variants of the COVID-19 virus to be able to identify which variants require immediate interest and concern. Determining the variants with high consequences are also included in the priorities of research and laboratory experiments performed to cease the spread and negative effects  of the COVID-19 virus, including all of its varieties.

As these researches and studies are developed, the population is left with the responsibility to halt the spread of the disease, including the Delta variant, through herd vaccination and proper health practices. Doing so also prevents the emergence of new and more dangerous variants that can pose a threat to the health and life of mankind.