In May, the WHO tagged B.1.617.2 strain as the 'Delta' variant of SARS-CoV-2. The variant was identified as one of the drivers of the second wave of coronavirus infections that devastated parts of the country earlier this year.
As the virus has evolved, it seems the most common symptoms have changed too.
In May, the WHO tagged B.1.617.2 strain as the 'Delta' variant of SARS-CoV-2. The variant was identified as one of the drivers of the second wave of coronavirus infections that devastated parts of the country earlier this year.
The 'Delta' variant has further mutated to form the 'Delta plus' or 'AY.1' variant. However, there is no immediate cause for concern in India as its incidence in the country is still low, scientists said.
As the virus has evolved, it seems the most common symptoms have changed too.
Emerging data suggest people infected with the Delta variant 바카라 the variant behind most of Australia바카라s current cases and highly prevalent around the world 바카라 are experiencing symptoms different to those we commonly associated with COVID earlier in the pandemic.
We바카라re all different
Humans are dynamic. With our differences come different immune systems. This means the same virus can produce different signs and symptoms in different ways.
A sign is something that바카라s seen, such as a rash. A symptom is something that바카라s felt, like a sore throat.
The way a virus causes illness is dependent on two key factors:
-viral factors include things like speed of replication, modes of transmission, and so on. Viral factors change as the virus evolves.
-host factors are specific to the individual. Age, gender, medications, diet, exercise, health and stress can all affect host factors.
So, when we talk about the signs and symptoms of a virus, we바카라re referring to what is most common. To ascertain this, we have to collect information from individual cases.
It바카라s important to note this data is not always easy to collect or analyse to ensure there바카라s no bias. For example, older people may have different symptoms to younger people, and collecting data from patients in a hospital may be different to patients at a GP clinic.
So, what are the common signs and symptoms of the Delta variant?
Using a self-reporting system through a mobile app, data from the United Kingdom suggest the most common COVID symptoms may have changed from those we traditionally associated with the virus.
The reports don바카라t take into account which COVID variant participants are infected with. But given Delta is predominating in the UK at present, it바카라s a safe bet the symptoms we see here reflect the Delta variant.
While fever and cough have always been common COVID symptoms, and headache and sore throat have traditionally presented for some people, a runny nose was rarely reported in earlier data. Meanwhile, loss of smell, which was originally quite common, now ranks ninth.
There are a few reasons we could be seeing the symptoms evolving in this way. It may be because data were originally coming mainly from patients presenting to hospital who were therefore likely to be sicker. And given the higher rates of vaccination coverage in older age groups, younger people are now accounting for a greater proportion of COVID cases, and they tend to experience milder symptoms.
It could also be because of the evolution of the virus, and the different characteristics (viral factors) of the Delta variant. But why exactly symptoms could be changing remains uncertain.
While we still have more to learn about the Delta variant, this emerging data is important because it shows us that what we might think of as just a mild winter cold 바카라 a runny nose and a sore throat 바카라 could be a case of COVID-19.
This data highlight the power of public science. At the same time, we need to remember the results haven바카라t yet been fully analysed or stratified. That is, 바카라host factors바카라 such as age, gender, other illnesses, medications and so on haven바카라t been accounted for, as they would in a rigorous clinical trial.
And as is the case with all self-reported data, we have to acknowledge there may be some flaws in the results.
Does vaccination affect the symptoms?
Although new viral variants can compromise the effectiveness of vaccines, for Delta, the vaccines available in Australia (Pfizer and AstraZeneca) still appear to offer good protection against symptomatic COVID-19 after two doses.
Importantly, both vaccines have been shown to offer greater than 90% protection from severe disease requiring hospital treatment.
A recent 바카라superspreader바카라 event in New South Wales highlighted the importance of vaccination. Of 30 people who attended this birthday party, reports indicated none of the 24 people who became infected with the Delta variant had been vaccinated. The six vaccinated people at the party did not contract COVID-19.
In some cases infection may still possible after vaccination, but it바카라s highly likely the viral load will be lower and symptoms much milder than they would without vaccination.
We all have a role to play
Evidence indicating Delta is more infectious compared to the original SARS-CoV-2 and other variants of the virus is building.
It바카라s important to understand the environment is also changing. People have become more complacent with social distancing, seasons change, vaccination rates vary 바카라 all these factors affect the data.
But scientists are becoming more confident the Delta variant represents a more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 strain.
With PTI inputs