The Delta variant of COVID-19 is spreading quickly.
This one is believed to have originated in India. Dr. Rodney E. Rohde, professor and chair at Texas State University clinical laboratory science program says at least 90 percent of all new cases in the UK are the Delta mutation. "In the U-S, we think with our sequencing survey that it's about 10%. But the data is showing that that variant is doubling each two weeks."
Rohde says Delta may be the dominant variant in the United States soon. Currently the dominant mutation is the Alpha variant, which originated in the UK.
Alpha is more contagious than the original strain. Delta, Rohde says, is worse. "It appears to be the most contagious and that's alarming because that means it's going to spread quickly. The people that get this infection, there seems to be higher viral loads so there's more virus in the body and to make matters more problematic those viral loads are lasting for longer periods of time."
Don't blame the virus. Rohde says "This is what viruses do. They mutate. They mutate regularly. They mutate in response to our immune systems, in response to vaccines, in response vaccines in response to medications. The virus is trying to find new hosts and ways to stay around longer."
The Moderna, Pfizer and one shot Johnson and Johnson vaccines work against Delta work, if you are fully vaccinated. There are worries about infection in those obviously unvaccinated and those vaccinated with only the first dose. It takes five weeks from the first shot of Pfizer and six from the first shot of Moderna to become fully immunized.
Some states have high vaccination rates but many, including ours, are below 50%. "We could have little mini outbreaks within certain states and certain regions. Maybe what we see going forward is hotter spots in certain states that aren't fully vaccinated."
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