COVID-19 Delta Variant Allegedly As Contagious As Chicken Pox, May Cause Severe Disease

The world continues to take all necessary precautions against the Delta variant of the coronavirus, believes to be the reason behind spikes in COVID-19 cases globally.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) described the Delta variant as something that is transmissible, similar to chickenpox. Also, they are cautioning everyone that it could also lead to severe disease according to the latest report.

It was also added that the Delta variant was more likely to break through protections even for people who have already been vaccinated. However, the report also explained that this would be rare.

So while most have given their criticism on the efficiency of vaccines, the CDC has figures to show that jabs are still effective in preventing serious illnesses, hospitalization and even death.

While the findings are somewhat comforting, it is likely to raise further debate. This is about following the common health safety protocols that include social distancing, wearing of face masks and other measures.

Although there are countries that have had broad vaccination efforts, the CDC report stressed that universal wearing of masks is still a need – more on to reduce the chances of transmission.

Some countries have reinstated the use of face masks even indoors such as Israel. Aside from that, they continue to implement quarantine for travelers.

"The main thing that does change (because of Delta) is that masks will still be used and that in countries where this requirement has been lifted, it will have to be re-introduced," Carlo Federico Perno, Head of Microbiology and Immunology Diagnostics at Rome's Bambino Gesù Hospital stated.

As far as wearing masks, such is because new research found that vaccinated people who get infected with the Delta variant were found to have tremendous amounts of the virus in the nose and throat.

The Delta variant is more transmissible than the SARS-CoV-2 ancestral strain as well as the viruses that cause MERS, SARS, Ebola, the common cold, the seasonal flu and smallpox, the report added. CDC is expected to publish additional data on the variant soon.