Delta Variant Greatest Threat To US Pandemic Response
- June 23, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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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.