Why Experts are So Concerned About the Rise of the Delta Variant
The delta variant is a version of the coronavirus that has been found in more than 80 countries since it first was detected in India. The delta variant is now potentially responsible for over 90 percent of all new cases in the United Kingdom, according to data from Public Health England.
In the United States, the variant is believed to be responsible for roughly 25 percent of all new cases, but that percentage is quickly growing.
In the United States, the delta variant is affecting mostly people who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 78 percent of the population older than 65 years old is vaccinated. Since many older people and those with underlying conditions are already vaccinated, the virus is spreading predominantly among those who are not — patients in their 20s, 30s, and 40s who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
If you’ve heard of the delta variant, chances are you’ve likely heard of the delta plus variant. It is the latest version of the coronavirus, announced by Indian health officials in late June. As of June 24, there were about 40 cases of the delta plus infections, according to NPR. Indian authorities are on alert given the contagiousness of the original delta variant.
The mutations don’t seem to be great enough for there to be any significant distinction between the delta variant and the delta plus.
Do fully vaccinated people have to worry about the delta and delta plus variants? News out of Israel may suggest yes. Still, it is important to note it’s not confirmed whether these “breakthrough” patients are fully or partially vaccinated.
According to the Wall Street Journal, about half of new COVID-19 cases were vaccinated people in Israel. Preliminary findings have found that the delta variant accounts for about 90 percent of new COVID-19 cases in Israel.
What makes the delta and delta plus variants even more concerning, aside from their increased transmission rates, is that they may put patients at risk for developing other long-term health problems, though the data on that is still preliminary.
“The question is not only is it more contagious, but might it produce more severe diseases? Are you more likely to have a severe infection? The data are less certain, but there are some suggestions that that is the case,” said Schaffner.
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