Since the Coronavirus became a pandemic, there have been new variations of the virus which have left scientist researching daily to find more clues about it. Scientist and health experts call this process mutation.
Mutation, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute (NIH), is a change in a DNA sequence that can be as a result of DNA copying mistakes made during cell division, exposure to ionizing radiation, exposure to chemicals called mutagens, or infection by viruses. Viruses do this to adapt and survive in ne environments.
Although there have been approved vaccines to help fight the pandemic, there are still new variations. Variations such as the Alpha variant, the Beta variant, the Kappa variant and the C.37 or the Lambda variant exist. The latest of the COVID-19 variations is the Delta.
According to the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Delta variant, also known ad B.1.617.2, emerged in India and is currently widespread. Evidence suggest that it is potentially more transmissible than other variants.
The CDC has indicated that the Delta variant can spread more easily in indoor settings than other variants. Currently, the Delta variant has been detected in more than 60 countries including Ghana.
As of early July, it has become the dominant form of the coronavirus in the US, UK, Germany, and other countries. In the UK, for instance, the Delta variant now makes up more than 97% of new COVID-19 cases, according to Public Health England.