St Kitts and Nevis reports Delta variant in one of the samples sent for genomic sequencing

St Kitts and Nevis: An easier-to-transmit variant of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus, known as the Delta variant, was confirmed in one of the samples sent abroad for genomic sequencing, said Medical Chief of Staff in the Joseph Nathaniel France (JNF) General Hospital, Dr Cameron Wilkinson.

"The samples were sent to CARPHA [Caribbean Public Health Agency] on July 28 for genomic sequencing. The results, which returned over the past 24 to 48 hours, confirm the presence of the Delta variant in one of the samples tested," Dr Wilkinson said, adding that the positive case was an incoming passenger who was in quarantine and has since recovered. "It is reassuring to know that the Delta variant was found in someone who was in quarantine and has since recovered and was not found in general." Dr Wilkinson noted that several states in the region, including Trinidad and Tobago; Grenada; Martinique; Guadeloupe; Barbados; Puerto Rico; Anguilla; Saba, the US Virgin Islands and St Martin already has the Delta variant. He noted that it was only a matter of time before it hit the coast of St Kitts and Nevis reached. “It was not a matter of whether, but when it would come and that we all had to prepare for this event. We will not be spared, and we must be prepared. If too many people remain vulnerable and become infected with this variant, our healthcare system will be overwhelmed and people will die. The unvaccinated among us run the greatest risk.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Delta variant was first detected in India in October 2020 and quickly surpassed the other strains to become the most transmissible variant of COVID-19. In May, global healthcare declared it a 'variant of global concern'.

"The Delta variant is the most contagious variant we've seen so far of all the variants. The World Health Organization called it the fastest and fittest of all variants,” said the Medical Chief of Staff. "Without vaccination and mask, an infected person with the original virus will infect 2.5 other people. Under the same circumstances, a person infected with the Delta variant will infect nine other persons. Some data suggest that the Delta variant may cause more serious diseases than previous strains in non-vaccinated individuals.”