SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, also known as lineage B.1.617.2, is a variant of lineage B.1.617 of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.[1] It was first detected in India in late 2020.[2][3] The World Health Organization (WHO) named it the Delta variant on 31 May 2021.[4]
It has mutations in the gene encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein[5] causing the substitutions T478K, P681R and L452R,[6] which are known to affect transmissibility of the virus as well as whether it can be neutralised by antibodies for previously circulating variants of the COVID-19 virus.[7][failed verification] Public Health England (PHE) in May 2021 observed secondary attack rates to be 51–67% higher than the alpha variant.[8] COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing severe disease or hospitalisation from infection with the variant, while some evidence suggests vaccinated people are more likely to develop symptoms from Delta than other variants of SARS-CoV-2.[9]
0 Comments