British study: victims of the “delta mutation” in hospitals twice as many as “alpha”

A recent study added new evidence that confirms the emerging corona virus’s mutated delta is the most dangerous, contagious and widespread, according to CNN.

The study, conducted by researchers at Public Health England and the University of Cambridge, indicated that the results indicate that patients who develop the delta mutation are twice as likely to be hospitalized as patients who have the mutation. alpha.

The study, published in the journal “Lancet” specializing in infectious diseases, included data on 8,682 patients with Covid-19 in England who were infected with the delta variant and 34,656 with the alpha variant, knowing that 74% of patients in both groups were not immunized with vaccines.

The study, which was conducted between March 29 and May 23 of this year, reported that 2.3% of Delta patients and 2.2% of Alpha patients were hospitalized within two weeks after confirming that they were infected with the emerging coronavirus.

But after the researchers took into account certain factors that might increase a patient’s risk of hospitalization, such as age or vaccination status, they found that the delta mutator was associated with a risk of hospitalization 2. , 26 times higher than 1.01.45 times higher. risk of requiring intensive care.

The researchers noted that the results of their study were similar to separate research previously conducted in Scotland, and also found a higher risk of hospitalization within 14 days for patients with delta than those with the strain virus. alpha.

“Our analysis shows that in the absence of a vaccine, any delta-mutated epidemic would place a greater burden on the healthcare of the alpha strain,” said researcher Anne Brisanis, one of the lead authors of the study and statistician at the University of Cambridge.

“Getting a full vaccination is essential for reducing an individual’s risk of developing symptoms of a delta mutation in the first place, and most importantly, reducing the risk of hospitalization for those who have contracted this strain of coronavirus,” he said. she adds.

For their part, some doctors and scientists who were not involved in the new study explained that the results confirm what was already believed about the delta mutant, it is rather the most common and the most contagious.

Strain noted that this: “This highlights the need for a comprehensive vaccination program in young adults and clearly shows that the preconception that they do not catch severe Covid is no longer correct,” adding : “As the delta mutator is the most contagious, it will also be the most dangerous.

Dr Zania Stamataki, a viral immunologist at the University of Birmingham, who was not involved in the new study, said her results indicate that the delta mutant has doubled the number of hospital admissions compared to the alpha variant, explaining, “The evidence is increasing that we are dealing with a very dangerous strain, and that it takes two doses of the vaccine to provide maximum protection.