Is the Delta strain highly contagious? What virus is the Delta strain

Our country has done a very good job in epidemic prevention and control, but there are still some areas with recurrent outbreaks. The recent two outbreaks in Guangdong and Nanjing are reportedly caused by the Delta strain. So, is the Delta strain highly contagious? How contagious is the Delta strain? There is currently no consensus in the scientific community on how contagious the Delta strain is.

1. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the United States, recently stated that the Delta strain has a higher chance of causing severe illness than the most common Alpha strain in the United States. A study in Scotland also suggests that the Delta variant may increase the risk of hospitalization for patients. However, WHO believes that there is no evidence that the delta virus will lead to an increase in the death rate of COVID-19.

2. Van Kierkehofer warns that although vaccines are still effective against current viruses, there is still a possibility of a series of mutations in the virus in the future that could cause the vaccine to actually lose its effectiveness, which is exactly what people need to ensure prevention. Therefore, efforts should be made to avoid and reduce the spread of the virus, as the wider the virus spreads, the greater the chance of mutation.

3. Vinita Barr, a visiting professor and immunologist at the Indian Institute of Science and Education, stressed that no matter which COVID-19 is targeted, "vaccination always puts you in a favorable position to fight against infection".

4 A recent study published in The Lancet showed that the titer of neutralizing antibody against Delta virus strain produced by human body after inoculation with COVID-19 vaccine decreased. But experts from multiple countries believe that vaccination is still effective at present, at least in preventing severe illness and reducing deaths.

5. The Public Health Bureau of England published a report in May, saying that researchers analyzed the data from April 5 to May 16 and found that two weeks after the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and German Biotech, the effective rate of preventing symptoms after infection with Delta virus was still 88%. If vaccinated with AstraZeneca's vaccine, the effectiveness rate of preventing symptoms after infection with the Delta strain can also reach 60%.

What virus is delta virus

COVID-19 mutation virus

This virus was first discovered in India in October 2020, and was initially called "double mutation" virus by the media. According to the communique of the Indian Ministry of Health at the end of March this year, the "Indian COVID-19 Genomics Alliance" composed of 10 laboratories found in the samples collected in Maharashtra that this new mutant strain carries E484Q and L452R mutations, which may lead to immune escape and increased infectivity. This variant strain was named B.1.617 by the World Health Organization and was named on May 31st using the Greek letter delta.