Delta variant produces similar viral loads in vaccinated and unvaccinated: study

Washington: A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States found that the Delta variant produced the same amount of virus in vaccinated and unvaccinated people who became infected.

The CDC study, published on Friday, focused on 469 COVID-19 cases identified among Massachusetts residents who visited Barnstable County, a popular summer vacation destination, from July 3 to 17, according to the Xinhua news agency.

According to the study, 346 cases (roughly 74% of all cases) occurred in people who were fully vaccinated.

The Delta variant was found in 90 percent of the specimens from 133 patients tested.

According to the study, cycle threshold values were similar in specimens from patients who were fully vaccinated and those who were not.

According to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, the study found that Delta infection resulted in similarly high SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

“High viral loads indicate an increased risk of transmission and have raised concerns that, unlike other variants, vaccinated people infected with Delta can transmit the virus,” she said.

According to Walensky, this finding is concerning and was a pivotal discovery that led to the CDC’s updated mask recommendation.

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its masking recommendation, urging vaccinated Americans to resume wearing masks in schools and public indoor spaces in COVID-19 hot spots across the country.

“The masking recommendation was updated to ensure that the vaccinated public did not unintentionally transmit virus to others, including their unvaccinated or immunocompromised loved ones,” she explained.

The CDC advised jurisdictions to consider expanded prevention strategies, such as universal masking in indoor public settings, especially for large public gatherings that include visitors from a variety of areas with varying levels of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

 

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