DELTA variant and other mutants
>> Sunday, August 8, 2021
Victor RG Dumaguing
The Delta variant
apparently is the “anointed ambassador of illwell” of the microbes particularly
the viruses bringing to almost all countries in planet Earth its dubious
credentials- increased transmissibility, faster development of the signs and
symptom of Covid 19 and the feared significant reduction of efficacy and
strength of available vaccines in preventing full-blown disease and death from
infection of SARs Co-V 2 corona virus.
The World Health Organization has classified viruses either as “virus of interest”- which include the once-touted Philippine and Hongkong virus- and “virus of concern,” the ones which have caused alarming rise in morbidity (illness) and mortality (death) especially among the so-called low/middle income countries which challenged their health systems in terms of medical equipment as well as professional health care, not to mention the problem of decent respectable disposal of their beloved dead.
At the moment, the world is dealing with the Alpha, Beta and Delta variants, with the possible inclusion of the Lambda discovered lately in Peru, with a collective global prayer that these pesky variants would not reach Omega for their identification.
A change in the characteristic of a cell- humans, animals, plants-caused by a change in the DNA molecule which is the core of the genome or genetic endowments of the organism-human, animal, plant- that is transmissible to the offspring/children is called MUTATION. The genetic endowments of a particular organism example humans can be divided into Phenotype, which are the physical manifestations of the genes of the person like the color of the eyes, dimples, bridge of the nose, even flat footedness. The Genotype is the non-physical aspects of heredity like IQ, aptitude in math, talent in music and the arts.
There are three categories of mutation. Scientists and experts in microbiology agree that in all likelihood, most mutations are silent or neutral mutations meaning, they have no effect on the cell of the microbe.. There is also harmful mutation that involves the production of a non-functional enzyme, an enzyme crucial to the different metabolic reactions that are essential to the continuity of life and survival of the microbe. This is also called lethal mutation. Beneficial mutations as the name implies are of benefit to the microbe,. An example would be a mutation that enables the microbe or the virus to survive in an environment where organisms without that mutation would die. As a result this mutation enables the organism or the virus to be resistant to anti-microbial drugs, example antibiotics if the microbe in question is a bacteria. It is reasonable to assume that the more vicious variants of microbes especially viruses, are more likely to develop in places where there are many infected persons who mutually continue to spread the virus among themselves.
The Delta variant is unanimously considered by both epidemiologists and clinicians as the most dangerous Covid 19 virus. Compared to patients who contract the other earlier variants-UK, South Africa, Brazil- who can transmit to 3-5 other persons, one Delta variant patient can spread the virus to 8 persons in a much shorter time exposure of even just five minutes within an enclosed space, compared to the usual 15-30 minutes observed with the other variants.
Statistics of health professionals in the United States and Europe show that most deaths arising from Covid 19 infections, particularly by the Delta variant, are unvaccinated persons, a fact noted by our Filipino doctors who together with IATF , continue to pursue widespread dissemination of health information and promotion of roll out of vaccines for our desired population protection of the entire Filipino nation.
The World Health Organization has classified viruses either as “virus of interest”- which include the once-touted Philippine and Hongkong virus- and “virus of concern,” the ones which have caused alarming rise in morbidity (illness) and mortality (death) especially among the so-called low/middle income countries which challenged their health systems in terms of medical equipment as well as professional health care, not to mention the problem of decent respectable disposal of their beloved dead.
At the moment, the world is dealing with the Alpha, Beta and Delta variants, with the possible inclusion of the Lambda discovered lately in Peru, with a collective global prayer that these pesky variants would not reach Omega for their identification.
A change in the characteristic of a cell- humans, animals, plants-caused by a change in the DNA molecule which is the core of the genome or genetic endowments of the organism-human, animal, plant- that is transmissible to the offspring/children is called MUTATION. The genetic endowments of a particular organism example humans can be divided into Phenotype, which are the physical manifestations of the genes of the person like the color of the eyes, dimples, bridge of the nose, even flat footedness. The Genotype is the non-physical aspects of heredity like IQ, aptitude in math, talent in music and the arts.
There are three categories of mutation. Scientists and experts in microbiology agree that in all likelihood, most mutations are silent or neutral mutations meaning, they have no effect on the cell of the microbe.. There is also harmful mutation that involves the production of a non-functional enzyme, an enzyme crucial to the different metabolic reactions that are essential to the continuity of life and survival of the microbe. This is also called lethal mutation. Beneficial mutations as the name implies are of benefit to the microbe,. An example would be a mutation that enables the microbe or the virus to survive in an environment where organisms without that mutation would die. As a result this mutation enables the organism or the virus to be resistant to anti-microbial drugs, example antibiotics if the microbe in question is a bacteria. It is reasonable to assume that the more vicious variants of microbes especially viruses, are more likely to develop in places where there are many infected persons who mutually continue to spread the virus among themselves.
The Delta variant is unanimously considered by both epidemiologists and clinicians as the most dangerous Covid 19 virus. Compared to patients who contract the other earlier variants-UK, South Africa, Brazil- who can transmit to 3-5 other persons, one Delta variant patient can spread the virus to 8 persons in a much shorter time exposure of even just five minutes within an enclosed space, compared to the usual 15-30 minutes observed with the other variants.
Statistics of health professionals in the United States and Europe show that most deaths arising from Covid 19 infections, particularly by the Delta variant, are unvaccinated persons, a fact noted by our Filipino doctors who together with IATF , continue to pursue widespread dissemination of health information and promotion of roll out of vaccines for our desired population protection of the entire Filipino nation.
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