Other Variants
Coronavirus has several other variants apart from Delta. These include Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Epsilon, Ets, Iota, Kappa, Mu, and Zeta. However, none of these variants have exhibited the same level of contagiousness as Delta. It is worth noting that mutations and the emergence of new variants can potentially increase the lethality of a virus. However, from the virus’s perspective, it is not advantageous for it to be more deadly. If a virus kills its host, it reduces its chances of spreading further.
Variants of Concern
Variants of concern are identified by specific markers that suggest they may not interact with cell receptors in the same manner. This can result in reduced effectiveness of treatments, antibodies from previous infections, or even an escalation in severity or contagiousness. Once health authorities identify a variant of concern, they respond by intensifying surveillance, conducting comprehensive laboratory investigations, and closely monitoring the efficacy of vaccines and current treatment options.