The Delta variant shares some characteristics with the original variant of the COVID-19 virus, but it also differs in the types of symptoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Rochelle Walensky said in a press conference Tuesday that the variant “behaves differently” from other strains of COVID-19.
Here is what to know about the Delta variant and its symptoms.
What is the Delta variant of COVID-19?
The “Delta variant,” also known by its scientific name as “B.1.617.2,” was a strain of the coronavirus first identified in October in Maharashtra, India.
The strain was first named the “Delta variant” by the World Health Organization after the global health agency implemented a naming system based on Greek letters this month.
Although it is just one out of many variants that are spreading around during the pandemic, World Health Organization officials have called it “a variant of concern.”
The Delta variant also has split into several sub-variants, including one that is widespread in the United Kingdom.
Are the Delta variant symptoms different from regular COVID symptoms?
The Delta variant’s symptoms differ slightly from the original variant of the virus.
The variant has a wide range of symptoms including:
- Stomach pain
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Stuffy nose
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Joint pain
- Hearing loss
In most cases, patients with the variant are more likely to be hospitalized, suffer other complications, and require oxygen.
If I am fully vaccinated, do I need to worry about the Delta variant?
If you are fully vaccinated, your chances of getting the Delta variant of COVID-19 have significantly decreased.
And although fully vaccinated people can experience symptoms and test positive for COVID-19 in breakthrough cases, being vaccinated diminishes the chance of becoming seriously ill or needing to be hospitalized from the virus.
“So far, the vaccines that are here in the United States are effective, even against the Delta variant. It doesn’t mean you can’t get infected at all, but hospitalizations and deaths are significantly less likely to happen than if you’re not vaccinated,” said Dr. Gabe Kelen, director of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.
A U.K. study published in May showed that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine were 88% effective at preventing against symptomatic infection and 96% effective against preventing hospitalization.
Moderna announced in a June 29 press release that its vaccine was effective against multiple variants of concern, including the Delta variant.
A July 1 press release from Johnson & Johnson stated that the vaccine showed promise against the Delta variant in laboratory testing.
If I am partially vaccinated, what is my risk for catching the Delta variant?
The best protection against the Delta variant if you are partially vaccinated is to receive a full dose of a vaccine.
The CDC strongly recommends that you wear a mask indoors and remain socially distanced until you are able to complete your 14-day waiting period after your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna shot or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shot.
What is the risk of catching the Delta variant for unvaccinated people?
People who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 are at the highest risk for catching the Delta variant, according to the CDC.
The Delta variant now accounts for more than 80% of U.S. COVID-19 cases, the vast majority coming from unvaccinated people, according to health officials.
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