Scientifically termed as B.1.617.2, the Delta variant contains mutations from two separate variants. It is 40%-50% more transmissible than the Alpha strain identified in the UK.
The Delta variant has spread to at least 74 countries. It is also causing concerns in the UK and the US, where it comprises 91% and over 10% of the new cases, respectively.
Chief Scientist at WHO Soumya Swaminathan said that the Delta variant is becoming the dominant variant globally.
Several studies suggest that compared to other variants, the Delta variant seems to have a stronger resistance to vaccines. However, there’s also evidence that COVID vaccine shots are working against it.
According to a new analysis by Public Health England, two doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalisation for illness from this variant.
The team behind the Sputnik vaccine, meanwhile, tweeted that theirs was “more efficient against the Delta variant than any other vaccine. But they…