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Next version
| Version 60 | Version 61 |
|---|---|
| What are the Delta, Gamma, Beta and Alpha Covid variants? | What are the Delta, Gamma, Beta and Alpha Covid variants? |
| (3 months later) | |
| Officials are keeping a close watch on a new descendent of the Delta variant of Covid, which is causing a growing number of infections in the UK. | |
| AY.4.2 - which some are calling "Delta plus"- has changes or mutations that might potentially help the virus survive more effectively. | |
| What is the Delta variant and the new mutations? | |
| There are thousands of different types, or variants, of Covid circulating across the world. One of them, known as Delta or B.1.617.2, first identified in India, appears to be spreading quickly in many countries. | |
| Delta has become the dominant variant in the UK, where it is considered a "variant of concern" - meaning health officials watch it closely. | |
| In July 2021 experts identified a new relative called AY.4.2. | |
| This Delta offshoot has been increasing slowly since then. It includes some new mutations affecting the spike protein, which the virus uses to penetrate our cells. | |
| So far, there's no indication that it's significantly more transmissible as a result of these changes, but experts are studying it closely. | |
| It's not yet been categorised as a variant of concern, or a variant under investigation. | |
| Experts say it's unlikely to take off in a big way or defeat the current vaccines. | |
| Other current variants of concern include: | |
| Alpha (B.1.1.7), first identified in the UK but which spread to more than 50 countries | Alpha (B.1.1.7), first identified in the UK but which spread to more than 50 countries |
| Beta (B.1.351), first identified in South Africa but which has been detected in at least 20 other countries, including the UK | Beta (B.1.351), first identified in South Africa but which has been detected in at least 20 other countries, including the UK |
| Gamma (P.1), first identified in Brazil but which has spread to more than 10 other countries, including the UK | Gamma (P.1), first identified in Brazil but which has spread to more than 10 other countries, including the UK |
| Viruses mutate all the time and most changes are inconsequential. Some even harm the virus. But others can make the disease more infectious or threatening - and these mutations tend to dominate. | Viruses mutate all the time and most changes are inconsequential. Some even harm the virus. But others can make the disease more infectious or threatening - and these mutations tend to dominate. |
| Is Delta more dangerous? | Is Delta more dangerous? |
| There is no evidence that Delta, AY.4.2 - or any of the other variants - cause more serious illness for the vast majority of people. | |
| As with the original version, the risk remains highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions. | As with the original version, the risk remains highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions. |
| But even so, if a variant is more infectious it will lead to more deaths in an unvaccinated population. | But even so, if a variant is more infectious it will lead to more deaths in an unvaccinated population. |
| Vaccines offer high protection against severe illness with Covid-19, including infections caused by variants of concern. The shots also reduce the risk of infection. But they do not completely eliminate all risk. | |
| The advice to avoid infection remains the same for all strains: wash your hands, keep your distance, wear a face covering in crowded places and be vigilant about ventilation. | |
| How many cases are there in the UK? | How many cases are there in the UK? |
| Why has the Delta variant spread so quickly in UK? | Why has the Delta variant spread so quickly in UK? |
| How are the mutants behaving? | How are the mutants behaving? |
| The variants of concern have all undergone changes to their spike protein - the part of the virus which attaches to human cells. | The variants of concern have all undergone changes to their spike protein - the part of the virus which attaches to human cells. |
| Delta has some potentially important ones (such as L452R) that might make it spread more easily. | Delta has some potentially important ones (such as L452R) that might make it spread more easily. |
| One mutation, called N501Y, shared by the Alpha, Gamma and Beta, seems to make the virus better at infecting cells and spreading. | One mutation, called N501Y, shared by the Alpha, Gamma and Beta, seems to make the virus better at infecting cells and spreading. |
| Beta and Gamma also have a key mutation, called E484K, that may help the virus sidestep some of the body's immune defences. | Beta and Gamma also have a key mutation, called E484K, that may help the virus sidestep some of the body's immune defences. |
| Experts have found a small number of cases of Alpha with this change too. | Experts have found a small number of cases of Alpha with this change too. |
| Will vaccines still work against variants? | Will vaccines still work against variants? |
| Current vaccines were designed for earlier versions of coronavirus, which means they may not be the ideal match for new variants and so might not work quite as well. | Current vaccines were designed for earlier versions of coronavirus, which means they may not be the ideal match for new variants and so might not work quite as well. |
| But experts say they are still very effective at protecting lives by cutting the risk of severe illness: | But experts say they are still very effective at protecting lives by cutting the risk of severe illness: |
| An analysis by Public Health England found two doses of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine was more than 90% effective against hospitalisations for Covid-19 caused by Delta | An analysis by Public Health England found two doses of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine was more than 90% effective against hospitalisations for Covid-19 caused by Delta |
| However, a single dose was less effective at preventing illness from Delta, compared to how well it worked against Alpha | |
| Doctors say it is vital that people get the recommended number of doses to gain maximum protection against existing and emerging variants. | |
| Across the UK, additional booster jabs are being offered to: | |
| Over-50s | |
| Frontline health and social care workers | |
| Older adults in residential care homes | |
| People aged 16-49 years old with underlying health conditions which put them at greater risk of severe Covid | |
| Adults who share a household with vulnerable people | |
| Latest data from the NHS shows 3.7 million people in England have had a booster jab. | |
| Although Covid infections have been rising again across the UK, the number of hospitalisations and deaths has remained well below the levels seen in earlier waves, which experts attribute to the success of the vaccine programme. | |
| Is the pace of the Covid booster rollout too slow? | |
| How many people have been vaccinated so far? | How many people have been vaccinated so far? |