Since the start of the covid-19 pandemic last year in 2020, the SARS Cov2 virus has mutated several times. With the vaccines underway, scientists, governments, health officials and the common man were concerned about the efficacy of these vaccines against the mutated virus.
The United States CDC Is Concerned About The Delta Variant
So far, the vaccines have proved the efficiency and efficacy of the African and U.K. variants. As per the results so far, the vaccines are still efficient and working against the newly emerged delta variant. But still, the delta variant or B.1.617.2 variant is of concern to the health officials and also to the centre of diseases control and prevention (CDC).
The CDC has reported that the delta variant of the SARS Cov2 virus that was identified first in India has shown reduced rates of neutralization in lab tests. According to the reports, the delta variant has an increased transmissibility rate. The delta variant was also found to show a reduction in neutralization by using some monoclonal antibody treatment. A neutralization reduction is also observed from sera post-vaccination. The lab tests have revealed alarming results that makes the delta variant a “variant of concern”.
When the delta variant emerged first, the CDC found it to be the “variant of interest” which has now concerned the officials. It was said that the delta variant was 50% more capable of transmission as compared to the earlier alpha version. This makes the new B.1.617.2 strain about twice as contagious as the original covid-19 strain.
The variant has alarmed the world with a 2.5% higher rate of hospitalization in covid-19 patients as compared to the alpha variant identified in the United Kingdom. When compared to the original covid-19 strain, the delta variant is far more severe with high transmissibility. In addition, it is about four times more contagious than the original strain.
A mutated virus is declared a variant of concern if it is more transmissible or can prove more severe to the population. Apart from these, the variant of concern is also hard to detect through the prescribed and approved diagnostic methods. Even the accepted treatment and the vaccines might be less effective against the variant. The delta variant is also designated as a variant of concern by the United States Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention.
On May 10, the delta variant has officially declared a variant of concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). A study done and published in Scotland has claimed that the new covid-19 delta variant has a much higher rate of hospitalization than the U.K variant, B.1.1.7.
With a pacing vaccination drive in the United States, the government is relaxing the restrictions on covid-19 guidelines. Some states are planning to open up completely by lifting all constraints. Even the mask mandate might be lifted off. The government and people are hoping for a return to normal life. But at the same time, health officials are against the decision of lifting off the covid-19 protocols.
The health experts and officials are concerned that opening up the states, lifting up all the covid-19 mandates and ease of restrictions is going to put the country back at square one. If not careful, then the country is going to face a national health emergency far severe than that was experienced before.
President Joe Biden is still urging people to get vaccinated against the covid-19 infection as soon as possible. He also pointed out the fact that the county lost almost 600,000 lives to the pandemic so far. The United States has crossed the death toll of 60 lakhs from the diseases this Tuesday.
