Rapid global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant: spatiotemporal variation and public health impact
Zoonoses
; 1(3):1-6, 2021.
Article
in English
| CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-2025740
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has already affected human society for more than 1.5 years. As of August 8, 2021, this pandemic had caused more than 203 million infected and 4.3 million deaths worldwide. As an RNA virus, SARS-CoV-2 is prone to genetic evolution, thus resulting in development of mutations over time. Numerous variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been described globally, four of which are considered variants of concern (VOCs) by the WHO Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P1) and Delta (B.1.617.2). The Delta VOC was first reported in India in December of 2020 and has since affected approximately 130 different countries and regions. Herein, the spatiotemporal spread of the Delta VOC during April to July 2021 in 20 selected countries with available data were analyzed. The prevalence of the Delta VOC sequences was maintained at low levels in the beginning of April, increased rapidly in the following 3 months and is now becoming the predominant viral strain in most regions of the world. We also discuss the effects of the Delta VOC on transmissibility, clinical severity and vaccine effectiveness according to the latest data. The Delta VOC has greater transmissibility and risk of hospitalization than the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strains and the other three VOCs. The Delta VOC places partially or unvaccinated sub-populations at high risk. Currently authorized vaccines, regardless of vaccine type, still have reliable effectiveness against symptomatic infections and hospitalizations due to the Delta VOC.
Prion, Viral, Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens of Humans [VV210]; coronavirus disease 2019; disease course; disease transmission; hospital admission; human diseases; mutants; mutations; pandemics; public health; risk; spatial variation; temporal variation; viral diseases; man; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Australia; Bangladesh; Canada; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Italy; Japan; Kenya; Korea Republic; Malaysia; Mexico; Poland; Russia; South Africa; Spain; Thailand; Turkey; UK; Ukraine; USA; APEC countries; Australasia; Oceania; Commonwealth of Nations; high income countries; OECD Countries; very high Human Development Index countries; Least Developed Countries; lower-middle income countries; medium Human Development Index countries; South Asia; Asia; North America; America; European Union Countries; Mediterranean Region; Western Europe; Europe; ASEAN Countries; high Human Development Index countries; South East Asia; Southern Europe; East Asia; ACP Countries; Anglophone Africa; Africa; East Africa; Africa South of Sahara; upper-middle income countries; Homo; Hominidae; primates; mammals; vertebrates; Chordata; animals; eukaryotes; Latin America; Central Europe; Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirinae; Coronaviridae; Nidovirales; positive-sense ssRNA Viruses; ssRNA Viruses; RNA Viruses; viruses; Southern Africa; West Asia; British Isles; disease progression; subsaharan Africa; South Korea; Russian Federation; SARS-CoV-2; Britain; United Kingdom; United States of America; viral infections
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
CAB Abstracts
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
Topics:
Variants
Language:
English
Journal:
Zoonoses
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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