New data in the United States has shown that the "Delta" variant of the coronavirus spreads faster than previously known and has the ability to infect vaccinated individuals. Data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the "Delta" variant can cause severe infections in unvaccinated individuals at a rate exceeding that of all known variants, such as "Alpha" and "Beta," according to the Washington Post.
The newspaper reported that it accessed data that was part of an internal CDC report, showing that "Delta" is highly contagious, comparable to the highly infectious smallpox virus. The variant was first discovered in India in December 2020, and previous medical reports indicated that the transmissibility of "Delta" increases by approximately 40-60% compared to the original strain of the coronavirus. Although the report did not mention a new percentage, it is likely to be extremely high.
The report urged government officials to recognize that "the war has changed" due to the seriousness of the variant. It included data from a county in Massachusetts demonstrating an outbreak of the new variant, indicating that "Delta" penetrates the bodies of vaccinated individuals with a viral load similar to that of unvaccinated individuals. The term "viral load" refers to the amount of virus present in a person's body.
Most Vaccinated People Infected
Although the government document did not provide specific numbers, the CDC later revealed more details about the outbreak of "Delta" in the relevant county in Massachusetts after the report was leaked. The CDC stated that during the Independence Day holiday in Cape Cod, the outbreak of "Delta" resulted in the infection of 469 people, despite the majority (74 percent) being vaccinated.
The CDC states that "Delta" is more transmissible compared to other strains of the coronavirus and other viruses such as smallpox and Ebola. Although vaccines approved in the United States prevent over 90% of severe infections, the distinctive characteristics of this dangerous variant make them relatively less effective at preventing infection and transmission.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky stated in an interview with CNN that people need to understand that they are not sharing false information; the "Delta" variant is one of the most transmissible and infectious viruses known. She added that there is a need for more stringent measures to combat the outbreak of this dangerous variant, even among vaccinated individuals.
Details of the report were leaked concurrently with the CDC's change in recommendations regarding protective measures. This includes reinstating mask-wearing for vaccinated individuals in indoor settings, regardless of their vaccination status, especially in areas where the virus is spreading "significantly or highly."
