Analysis of the Delta Variant B.1.617.2 COVID-19

• Published in: Clinics and practice Vol. 11; no. 4; pp. 778 - 784
• Main Authors: Shiehzadegan, Shayan, Alaghemand, Nazanin, Fox, Michael, Venketaraman, Vishwanath
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 21.10.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Antibodies; B.1.617.2; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; delta variant; Disease transmission; Epidemics; Immune system; Infections; Mutation; Pandemics; Population; Proteins; Review; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; COVID-19; B.1.617.2; delta variant
• ISSN: 2039-7283; 2039-7275; 2039-7283
• DOI: 10.3390/clinpract11040093

With the delta variant of COVID-19, known as B.1.617.2, quickly ramping up infections around the world, we need to understand what makes this variant more contagious. One study has reported that the delta variant is 60% more transmissible than the alpha variant. As of August 2021, the delta variant has quickly become the dominant strain. Despite countries like the US, where most of the population is vaccinated, COVID-19 has made a resurgence in infections. Collectively, as a country, we ask: is it more deadly? What makes it more “contagious” or “transmissible”? This review article delves into the information we already know about the delta variant and how it compares with the other SARS-CoV-2 variants. The current vaccine companies like AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, and Moderna have reported that their vaccines can provide protection against this variant but with a slightly reduced efficacy. In this article, we do a comprehensive review and summary of the delta B.1.617.2 variant and what makes it more contagious.