In Italy, the Delta variant of Sars-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid, is rapidly increasing and is becoming prevalent. This was reported by a report from the Higher Institute of Health, published on Friday 25 June and relating to 31,158 loved ones of infection.
According to the report, the Delta variant – whose official prevalence was 4.2% in May – now at least 16.8%: a percentage far from the Alfa variant (74.92%), but growing very rapidly. The Kappa variant, a subtype of the Delta, is also growing.
These data confirm the scenario of the European Center for Infection Prevention and Control (ECDC), which days ago estimated that the higher transmissibility of the Delta variant means that by the end of August this will be 90% of the SARS-CoV-2 viruses circulating in the European Union.
From our epidemiological surveillance – says Anna Teresa Palamara, director of the Infectious Diseases Department of the ISS – a rapidly evolving picture emerges which confirms that in our country, as in the rest of Europe, the Delta variant of the virus is becoming prevalent. With the next flash survey we will have a more precise estimate of the prevalence.
The Minister of Health Roberto Speranza he explained that – against the spread of the new variant – the mask remains an essential tool to keep the virus under control. The percentage of vaccinated with two doses was also decisive – the virologist Pregliasco told Corriere della Sera.
The surge in cases for the Delta variant, and Delta plus, there will be. We are only behind England. But the backlash will come. If we’re lucky, hopefully, serious cases won’t grow in proportion to the contagion, Pregliasco said. In England, which was the first to open everything and let the virus go wild, the variant is causing 15,000 cases a day. But the deaths are between 10 and 20. Not the average of 300 per day as in the past. Do the vaccinated also get infected? Someone s. But those who have already taken the two doses rarely have serious effects. This is why the invitation, even more intense, to get vaccinated.
An analysis by the Financial Times based on the genetic sequences of the virus always deposited in the Gisaid database combined with other data from the Belgian research institute Sciensano estimates the presence of the Delta variant in Italy at 26%. Estimates also indicate that the Delta variant dominant in Britain and Portugal, where the concentration of 98% and 96% respectively. The United States follows with 31%, then Italy (26%), Belgium (16%), Germany (15%), France (6.9%).
Locatelli: Ready for any red zones
The president of the Superior Health Council also spoke about the Delta variant and its dangers, Franco Locatelli. It is important to work more intensively on tracing and genotyping and sequencing approaches because only in this way will we be able to accurately intercept any important diffusion signals of the Indian variant, the Delta, he said during the Live event in Florence on Sky Tg24 . Italy in this moment all white but if necessary we will create red zones to prevent the spread of clusters. As happened with the Brazilian variant in Umbria.
Why does the Delta variant worry?
The Delta variant raises concern because it is characterized by greater contagiousness, Locatelli said, and because it can cause even significant pathology in unvaccinated subjects or those who have received only one dose. According to estimates by the British government, Delta is between 40 and 60% more transmissible than Alfa. Although hospitalizations are on the rise in Britain, the double dose of vaccine protects well. The new report of the English Public Health speaks of 80% of the protection towards hospitalizations after the first dose which rises to 96% after the second.
Where is it located in Italy?
As written here, in Lombardy the Delta variant is already at 4 percent, but in Campania the largest number of cases. The strain is also present in Piedmont, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Puglia, Sicily and Lazio. The latter region has anticipated the recall of vaccinations with AstraZeneca to ensure, with two doses, better protection.
June 25, 2021 (change June 26, 2021 | 13:10)
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