Amid delta variant of the coronavirus wreaking havoc in the world, Dr. Mainak Malhotra, MBBS, MD (Medicine) and Visiting Consultant, Internal Medicine, AMRI hospital, Mukundapur, gives an overview of the most common questions asked regarding the strain.

What is the delta variant?

• B.1.617.2 identified in India in late 2020, potentially more transmissible & serious with higher hospitalization rates with a modest reduction in vaccine effectiveness. It is now the most prevalent strain.

What are the symptoms of the delta variant?

• Symptoms are similar to any other variant. However, severity in lung disease with an early onset of Dyspnoea & oxygen requirement has been noticed with higher hospitalization rates.

What is concerning about the COVID Delta variant?

• It is much more transmissible with higher secondary attack rates within families, potentially leading to a higher hospitalization rate. Has modest NEUTRALISING effect to Monoclonal antibody therapy & has modest/moderate reduction in vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic COVId--19 without significant impact on vaccine effectiveness against severe disease.

Where did the Delta variant come from?

• Although it is difficult to identify the origin of the strain it was first identified in INDIA Dec 2020.

What are precautions should be taken to prevent this delta variant?

• Social distancing, proper masking, hand sanitization, COVID appropriate behavior & above all vaccination against COVID 19 remains the best & established protection.

Does Delta variant attack vaccinate persons?

• COVID 19 vaccine helps to prevent the disease. It is not fully effective against preventing the infection, however, there is an established and clear-cut advantage against severe disease and death in vaccinated persons even against the delta variant.

Treatment of affected persons?

• Same as with other COVID patients may not respond to monoclonal antibody therapy as much.

There are multiple articles floating on the internet that the kids are more prone to this variant. As they are unvaccinated. What is your viewpoint on this?

• Kids will remain unvaccinated throughout the world for many more months to come. Hence they will get infected as the delta variant is more contagious, hence will lead to a higher no. of children coming to hospitals. There is no evidence yet to suggest that children are more prone or will have the more severe disease than adults, most cases will be mild & asymptomatic.

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