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Coronavirus delta variant expected to become dominant strain in the U.S.
Dr. Ross Goldberg, president of the Arizona Medical Association and vice chair of surgery at Valleywise Health talks to FOX 10's Troy Hayden and Renee Nelson about a version of the coronavirus that's been found in more than 80 countries.
What should I know about the delta variant?
It’s a version of the coronavirus that has been found in more than 80 countries since it was first detected in India. It got its name from the World Health Organization, which names notable variants after letters of the Greek alphabet.
Viruses constantly mutate, and most changes aren’t concerning. But there is a worry that some variants might evolve enough to be more contagious, cause more severe illness or evade the protection that vaccines provide.
Experts say the delta variant spreads more easily because of mutations that make it better at latching onto cells in our bodies. In the United Kingdom, the variant is now responsible for 90% of all new infections. In the U.S., it represents 20% of infections, and health officials say it could become the country’s dominant type as well.
It’s not clear yet whether the variant makes people sicker since more data needs to be collected, said Dr. Jacob John, who studies viruses at the Christian Medical College at Vellore in southern India.
Studies have shown that the available vaccines work against variants, including the delta variant.
Researchers in England studied how effective the two-dose AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines were against it, compared with the alpha variant that was first detected in the U.K.
The vaccines were protective for those who got both doses but were less so among those who got one dose.
It's why experts say it's important to be fully vaccinated. And it's why they say making vaccines accessible globally is so critical.
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Continuing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic:
- COVID-19 delta variant reported after outdoor Euro 2020 match, health officials say
- Delta variant: What to know about the spreading coronavirus strain
- Delta coronavirus variant doubling biweekly, now 20% of samples, Fauci says
- Can you mix and match COVID-19 vaccines?
- Why do some people get side effects after COVID-19 vaccines?
- How long does protection from COVID-19 vaccines last?
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