“Delta variant in Italy at 22.7%, English at 57.8%”

In Italy as of June 22, the Delta variant (formerly Indian) had a prevalence of 22.7% and was identified in 16 Regions and Autonomous Provinces, with a range between 0 and 70.6%. The estimate comes from the new rapid survey conducted by the Higher Institute of Health and the Ministry of Health, together with the regional laboratories and the Bruno Kessler Foundation. “The prevalence of the so-called Alpha variant (B.1.1.7)” or English “of Sars-CoV-2 was 57.8%, down from 88.1% on May 18, with values ​​fluctuating between the individual regions between 16.7% and 100%. On the same date, the so-called Gamma (P.1) “or Brazilian” variant had a prevalence of 11.8% (with a range between 0 and 37.5%, while in the previous survay it was 7.3%) “, indicates the analysis. The survey – specifies the ISS – integrates routine monitoring activities, and therefore does not contain all the cases of variants detected, but only those relating to the day taken into consideration. The so-called Kappa variant, for example, one of the Delta subtypes, was not found in the flash survey – we read – but several cases were reported on the integrated platform which instead collects the analyzes day by day. the laboratories of the Regions and Autonomous Provinces to select subsamples of positive cases and to sequence the genome of the virus. The requested sample was randomly chosen by the Regions from among the positive samples, guaranteeing a certain geographical representativeness and, if possible, for different age groups. In total, the 21 Regions and PAs and a total of 113 laboratories participated in the survey and 772 samples were sequenced, almost all of those eligible for the survey on the chosen day. Brusaferro: “Growth to be monitored carefully” “The growth of prevalence of the Delta variant is an expected data, which must be monitored with great attention “, says the president of the Higher Institute of Health, Silvio Brusaferro, commenting on the data. “It is essential to continue the systematic tracking of cases to identify outbreaks, which at this time is made possible by the low incidence – adds Brusaferro – and to complete the vaccination cycle as quickly as possible since, as confirmed yesterday by the EMA, this guarantees the best protection “.