Here’s everything you need to know about the Delta variant

At least 40 cases of the Delta variant — a highly virulent Covid-19 strain — have been recorded in the country in the last few days. Heath experts also suspect the presence of the Delta variant in Lahore.

With increasing number of cases of this deadly variant, here is everything you need to know about the Delta variant.

What is the Delta variant?

The Delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, can spread more easily, according to Web MD. The strain has mutations on the spike protein that make it easier for it to infect human cells, which means people may be more contagious if they contract the virus and spread it more easily to others.

Why should we be worried?

As per the New York Times, Delta variant is believed to be the most transmissible variant yet, and it can cause more severe illness. One study found that people infected by the Delta variant were roughly twice as likely to be hospitalised as those infected with the Alpha Variant.

Does vaccines work against Delta variant?

Data suggests that several widely used shots — including those made by Pfizer, BioNtech, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson and AstraZenca — appear to retain most of their effectiveness against Delta.

How does the Delta Variant spread more rapidly inside the body?

A recent study explains why the Delta variant grows more rapidly in the body. Delta variant grows more rapidly inside people’s respiratory tracts and to much higher levels, researchers at the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

On average, people infected with the delta variant had about 1,000 times more copies of the virus in their respiratory tracts than those infected with the original strain of the coronavirus, the study reported.

After someone catches the Delta variant, the person likely becomes infectious sooner. On average, it took about four days for the Delta variant to reach detectable levels inside a person, compared to six days for the original coronavirus variant.

In the past 24 hours, Pakistan has recorded 2,327 cases of Covid-19 with a positivity rate of 6.1 per cent.