SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Prevention in the Era of the Delta Variant

Eric A Meyerowitz; Aaron Richterman

doi:10.1016/j.idc.2022.01.007

SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Prevention in the Era of the Delta Variant

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2022 Jun;36(2):267-293. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2022.01.007. Epub 2022 Feb 1.

Authors

Eric A Meyerowitz¹, Aaron Richterman²

Affiliations

¹ Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, NY 10467, USA. Electronic address: emeyerowit@montefiore.org.
² Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) delta variant transmits much more rapidly than prior SARS-CoV-2 viruses. The primary mode of transmission is via short range aerosols that are emitted from the respiratory tract of an index case. There is marked heterogeneity in the spread of this virus, with 10% to 20% of index cases contributing to 80% of secondary cases, while most index cases have no subsequent transmissions. Vaccination, ventilation, masking, eye protection, and rapid case identification with contact tracing and isolation can all decrease the transmission of this virus.

Keywords: Aerosol; COVID-19; Delta; Overdispersion; SARS-CoV-2; Superspreading; Transmission; Vaccination.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / prevention & control
Humans
SARS-CoV-2*
Vaccination

Supplementary concepts

SARS-CoV-2 variants