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The COVID-19 delta variant is spreading in the United States and has been confirmed in Ohio.
Here’s what you need to know about it:
What is the delta variant?
The COVID-19 delta variant is one of many mutations in the original Sars-CoV-2 virus, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The first case of the delta strain was detected in India in December 2020. It has since spread to at least 72 countries, according to the Monitoring of WHO variants.
However, the variant was first detected in March 2021 in the United States.
Is the Delta variant in Ohio?
According to CDC Status Data Collected in the four weeks to May 22, 1.2% of Ohio’s COVID-19 cases were of the delta variant. This compares to a national incidence of 2.7% in the two weeks between May 9 and May 22.
However, based on current trends, the CDC predicts that the delta variant now makes 10% increase in new COVID-19 cases in the United States This would make the delta strain the third most prevalent variant in the country, after the alpha strain (first detected in the UK) and the gamma strain (first detected in Brazil).
Is the variant more deadly?
The delta variant spreads more easily and causes more serious illness than other strains of COVID-19, potentially making it the most dangerous variant to date, according to the CDC.
If the variant continues on its current trajectory, doubling every two weeks, it will become the most prevalent strain in the United States, formerly FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CBS ‘Face the Nation.”
It is for these reasons that it is listed as one of the six CDC “Variants of concern”. The increased transmissibility – about 60% greater than the alpha variant, according to Gottlieb – and the severity of the disease could lead to a higher prevalence of hospitalizations and death among the unvaccinated.
Scientists don’t know what’s behind the variant’s increased danger, but changes in the protein that allow easier entry and attachment to human cells may be one of the reasons, according to WebMD.
Do the vaccines work against the variant?
While research is still being conducted by the CDC and other scientific groups to determine the exact levels of protection that vaccinations or antibodies can offer against variants of COVID-19, the initial outlook is positive.
A United Kingdom study found that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 88% effective against the delta variant in preventing symptomatic disease.
Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said NPR that those who are vaccinated have much less to worry about.
He said the other vaccinations also offer nearly 90% effectiveness against the delta variant, and even greater protection against infections resulting in hospitalization or death.
What are the symptoms of the delta variant?
The symptoms of the delta variant are the same as those of the original COVID-19 strain, just more severe, Dr Bhaki Hansoti told USA TODAY.
Hansoti, associate professor of emergency medicine and international health at Johns Hopkins University and the Bloomberg School of Public Health, said hospitalizations and higher levels of treatment are more common.
Hearing loss, stomach pain and nausea are common symptoms, alongside headache, sore throat, runny nose, fever typical of the original COVID-19 strain.
The variant may be more likely to infect people under the age of 50, according to studies conducted in the UK
How can I protect myself against the variant?
Although the prevalence of the delta variant is low now, it has spread rapidly since arriving in the United States. By mid-summer, just over half of Ohio’s population is fully vaccinated, the latest CDC data shows.
The most important step people can take to avoid the new strain is to get vaccinated as soon as possible, the CDC advises.
The CDC also recommended what follows:
- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth.
- Maintain a social distance of six feet from people outside your household.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, or hand sanitizer if needed.
- Limit exposure to large gatherings and poorly ventilated indoor areas.
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