Delta Variants of SARS-CoV-2 Cause Significantly Increased Vaccine Breakthrough COVID-19 Cases in Houston, Texas.

ABSTRACT: Genetic variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have repeatedly altered the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Delta variants are now the focus of intense international attention because they are causing widespread COVID-19 globally and are associated with vaccine breakthrough cases. We sequenced 16,965 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from samples acquired March 15, 2021, through September 20, 2021, in the Houston Methodist hospital system. This sample represents 91% of all Methodist system COVID-19 patients during the study period. Delta variants increased rapidly from late April onward to cause 99.9% of all COVID-19 cases and spread throughout the Houston metroplex. Compared with all other variants combined, Delta caused a significantly higher

SUBMITTER: Christensen PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8580569 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature