The Delta variant, or B.1.617.2, is now the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 in the U.K. and is causing surges of COVID-19 in parts of the country. Mark Kerrison\/Getty Images hide caption <\/p>\n
The Delta variant, or B.1.617.2, is now the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 in the U.K. and is causing surges of COVID-19 in parts of the country.<\/p>\n
The Delta variant, which was first detected in India, now accounts for more than 6% of all infections in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And this highly transmissible variant may be responsible for more than 18% of cases in some Western U.S. states.<\/p>\n
The variant, also known as B.1.617.2, is spreading rapidly in the United Kingdom and has quickly become the dominant strain there, responsible for more than 90% of infections and causing surges of COVID-19 in some parts of England.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot let that happen in the United States,\" Dr. Anthony Fauci said. <\/p>\n
Speaking at a White House COVID-19 briefing Tuesday, Fauci warned that the Delta variant may be associated with more severe disease and a higher risk of hospitalization.<\/p>\n
The good news is that the vaccines look like they can protect people against the Delta variant. A new study from Public Health England showed two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were 88% effective against symptomatic disease from the Delta variant compared with 93% effectiveness against the Alpha variant, the variant first detected in the U.K. The vaccine only provided 33% protection after just one dose.<\/p>\n
Fauci urged everyone who has received the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to make sure to sign up for a second. \"And for those who have still not been vaccinated yet, please get vaccinated,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and to stop this variant from spreading and becoming dominant in the U.S.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read the original:<\/p>\n
The Highly Contagious Delta Variant Is On The Rise In The U.S. - NPR<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Delta variant, or B.1.617.2, is now the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 in the U.K. and is causing surges of COVID-19 in parts of the country. Continue reading