By Dr. Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center

OVER the past few weeks, attention has shifted to the delta variant of the SARSCOV2 virus which is spreading rapidly worldwide. It is leaving a trail of devastation that is unrivaled by any other mutated forms of the virus. We cannot let our guard down now as this variant is behaving very differently from others to the point where experts are saying that we should treat the current situation like we are in a new pandemic altogether. Today, I will shed some light on this variant so that you can understand why you need to act now and not wait until it’s too late.

What is the delta variant?
The delta variant came about from a mutation of the SARSCOV2 virus (coronavirus) and was first detected in India. It is called the B.1.617.2 variant and was responsible for the recent devastation in India and now the upsurge of infections that are occurring all over the world. Recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that it has already spread to more than 100 countries. The WHO’s Director for Europe has warned that Delta is “poised to take hold in the region,” as many countries prepare to ease restrictions and allow more social gatherings and travel across borders. Recent evidence suggests that it already accounting for 93 per cent of all sequenced cases in the USA. Evidence suggests that the number of persons infected by it doubles approximately every day. It is more transmissible than any other known variant and is 60 per cent more transmissible than the alpha variant that was first detected in UK last year and caused a wave of infections and deaths worldwide.

Does it cause more severe disease?
Evidence from the data available so far suggests that the delta variant is likely to cause more severe disease. A study recently done in Scotland showed that the risk of being hospitalized from the delta variant is two times higher than from the alpha variant. Given the higher number of infections and hospitalizations, the potential for deaths should be higher especially in unvaccinated populations.

Are Vaccines working against it?
Researchers are rushing to gather data on the effectiveness of vaccines against this variant. The available data suggests that the vaccines effects may be a little weaker than against other variants but are still significant enough to prevent destruction from this variant. Data from UK suggests that the Pfizer vaccine is 88 per cent effective in preventing symptomatic disease from the delta variant in persons who were fully vaccinated. The AstraZeneca vaccine was 60 per cent effective in preventing symptoms from the delta variant in persons who were fully vaccinated with it. However, the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines had 96 per cent and 92 per cent efficacy respectively in preventing hospitalisations from the delta variant.

Where does this leave us?
The delta variant is lurking around us and it may only be a matter of time before it starts to devastate us locally. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s already with us here given the recent trend in infections. If that’s the case, then we need to utilise the time we have on our side and be prepared for this threat before it starts its rampage through this country. Thankfully, vaccines seem to still have the upper hand against this variant and we should take advantage of this and arm ourselves. The best way to do that is to get vaccinated now so that your immune system is prepared to fight this delta variant if you come in contact with it in the near future. The longer you take to get vaccinated, the less likely you will be prepared to fight this form of the virus; you are therefore putting yourself at risk of being another statistic in the long list of deaths that this variant is leaving in its trails.

This may end up being the toughest battle in the war against COVID-19 thus far. The good news is, there is sufficient armor in the form of vaccines to protect us against this deadly variant. Arm yourself by getting vaccinated and you will help guarantee victory against this deadly delta variant when it reaches our shores.