- Experts say the COVID-19 Delta variant poses a threat in the United States because it is more contagious than other strains and produces more serious symptoms.
- They add that although the current vaccines are effective against the variant, the strain will have more chances to mutate as unvaccinated people contract the virus.
- The most common symptoms for the Delta variant are fever, headache, sore throat, and runny nose.
Many states have relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, allowing people in the United States to return to a semblance of life before the pandemic.
Still, a decrease in vaccination levels coinciding with the explosive spread of a new coronavirus variant has some health experts concerned about the country’s pandemic endgame.
The Delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, was first detected in India but has since surfaced in more than 70 countries, according to the
In the United States, the variant accounts for more than 6 percent of sequenced virus samples, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is a jump from about 1 percent a month ago.
This variant not only spreads more easily than earlier strains but may also cause more severe disease. This is particularly worrisome for unvaccinated people and those who have a weaker immune response to the virus.
Source: healthline