Covid-19: What You Should Know About The Delta Variant

As the Coronavirus persists and continues to spread, it changes through mutation, to bring about new variants.

According to the World Health Organisation, the delta variant has been identified as designated variants of concern, with a high rate of transmissibility.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Thursday, detected a case of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in Nigeria.

However, while Nigeria just reported its first case of Delta variant, the W.H.O said it has been reported in 96 countries and it expects that it will continue to spread.

W.H.O has described the Delta variant as a variant of concern because of its high rate of transmissibility.

Speaking during an interview monitored by THE WHISTLER, W.H.O Technical Lead on COVID-19, Maria Van Kerkhove said that the variant spreads more quickly and more efficiently than the Alpha variant that was detected in January 2021.

According to her, the uneven distribution of vaccines, relaxation or inappropriate use of public health or social measures among others, has made the world more susceptible to infection, including any variant of concern.

She said, “The Delta variant is a variant of concern that WHO is tracking around the world, it is a variant of concern because we know its high rate transmissibility.

“That means that where the Delta variant is identified, it quickly spread between people more efficiently than the Alpha variant that was detected in January 2021.

“There are number of factors contributing to increasing the transfer of the virus around the world, the first are these variant of concern, including the delta variant.

“The second is that we have increased social mixing, increased social mobility which increases the number of contact that individual have.”

Speaking further, Kerkhove urged country leaders to reinforce the preventive measures to tackle spread of the virus.

She also stressed on the need for governments to reinforce commitment to global vaccination drive.

“Knowing your risks help to take measure to lower your risk everyday, there are many that we can do to keep ourselves protected against the virus.

“These include: keeping clean hands, wearing mask, avoid crowded spaces, maintaining room with good ventilation.

“Taking all of these measures will reduce exposure to the virus.

“In addition, when it’s your turn, get vaccinate, we know that the vaccine is incredibly effective of preventing severe disease and deaths.

“Seize every opportunity to get vaccinated, and get the full doses, if you have the first dose make sure to go back for the second dose so that you can be protected against disease.

“Many people around the world are not yet vaccinated, or have not yet received the full vaccination dose. And so people remain susceptible to infection, this is why we recommend that people use the comprehensive approach, use as much as measures to prevent yourself from getting infected at the first place,” she said.