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The delta variant of the covid-19 virus is now the dominant strain in the U.S. and worldwide, accounting for more than half of new infections and driving up hospitalization rates and deaths in many U.S. states and multiple countries.
We now have the first clues as to why the delta variant spreads so easily--at least twice as fast as the original virus. Just-released research from China reveals that the variant was detected in infected people two days earlier than was typical of the original virus--in 4 vs. 6 days--and, strikingly, the number of virus particles produced and potentially spread by sufferers was up to 1260 times higher.
"This virus has surprised us," says Emma Hodcroft, a molecular epidemiologist at the University of Bern, Switzerland, after reviewing the new study.
The one-two punch of faster development after infection and vastly higher viral load combine to make the virus more quickly and easily transmitted, and make testing-contact tracing and quarantine-one of the main weapons in the battle against the pandemic--less effective.
"Putting it all together, Delta's really difficult to stop," says Benjamin Cowling, an epidemiologist at the the University of Hong Kong.
Unfortunately, with low vaccination rates in many states, along with the relaxation of most covid-related restrictions, we're going to hear a lot more about this virulent covid variant.
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REA 7/22/21
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