Delta Variant Greatest Threat To US Pandemic Response

Delta Variant Greatest Threat To US Pandemic Response

Subject : Science & tech

Context :The Delta variant of the novel coronavirus that was first found in India is the greatest threat to the United States’ effort to eradicate COVID-19 in its borders, said US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci .

Concept :

• The transmissibility is unquestionably greater in the Delta variant than the original variant of COVID-19 and also it is associated with an increased disease severity.
• The Delta variant is becoming the globally dominant version of the disease, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist said.

Delta Variant

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has named B.1.617.1 variant as ‘Kappa‘ and B.1.617.2 variant as ‘Delta‘
• These variants are sub-lineages of B.1.617 which was detected in India in 2021.
• This new nomenclature for the various variants of the coronavirus using Greek alphabets was introduced to simplify public discussions and also help remove the stigma from the names.
• Moreover, WHO has also categorized the Delta variant as a Variant of Concern (VOC).

Variant of Concern (VOC)

• WHO classifies a variant as a VOC when it is associated with
• An increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in Covid-19 epidemiology or
• Increase in virulence (Ability to cause severe/life-threatening disease)
• Decrease in the effectiveness of public health measures or available diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics.

Why is Delta Variant more dangerous than other variants?

• This variant has multiple mutations that appear to give it an advantage over other strains.
• The most important advantage is that the mutations may make the strain more transmissible. This will make the delta variant the most dangerous variant yet.
• One study indicated that the Delta variant may be up to 50% more transmissible than the B.1.1.7 (U.K./Alpha) variant.

What is a mutation?

• A mutation means a change in the genetic sequence of the virus.
• In the case of Covid-19, which is a Ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus, a mutation means a change in the sequence in which its molecules are arranged.
• A mutation in an RNA virus often happens when the virus makes a mistake while it is making copies of itself.