Transmission of the COVID-19 delta variant is increasing.
"We're in this constant spiral, right now,” says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group.
“The delta variant is so highly contagious,” he says. “The number of delta viral particles in the upper respiratory system is reportedly 1,000 times higher than with the original COVID-19 virus. If we can't find ways to get people vaccinated, we are going to be in a world of hurt. And I don't say that to be alarmist. I say it to be a realist, based on what’s happening right in front of us.”
But Dr. Poland says the spiral can be stopped by getting higher rates of immunization.
___________________________________________
Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.
For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
Dr. Poland has served as a consultant for Merck & Co. Inc., Medicago Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Sanofi Pasteur, Emergent BioSolutions Inc., Dynavax Technologies Corp., Genentech Inc., Eli Lilly and Co., Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Kentucky BioProcessing Inc. and Genevant Sciences Corp. Honoraria: Elsevier.
FOR THE PUBLIC: More health and medical news on the Mayo Clinic News Network. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/
FOR THE MEDIA ONLY: Register at newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/re... to access clean and nat sound versions of this video on the Mayo Clinic News Network. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/
Mayo Clinic mayocl.in/3tNMAdF
Like Mayo Clinic on Facebook: facebook.com/MayoClinic/
Follow Mayo Clinic on Twitter: twitter.com/MayoClinic
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Stopping the spiral of the COVID-19 delta variant ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: On the verge of predicted surge with COVID-19 delta variant ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 vaccination rates stalling, the delta variant rising ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Summer travel and people not in your bubble during COVID-19 pandemic ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 variants and the evolving science ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: The COVID-19 delta variant has changed everything ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: COVID-19 taking a toll beyond patients ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Dissecting COVID-19 research and putting data in perspective ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Kicking your COVID-19 bad habits ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: A dangerous phase of the COVID-19 pandemic for those unvaccinated ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Continuing progress in the battle against COVID-19 ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: On the verge of another COVID-19 surge ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Ramping up COVID-19 vaccination rate in race against virus ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Real world effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines ( Download)
- Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: So much learned in 1 year of COVID-19 ( Download)
