Eurosurv. Transmission dynamics and epidemiological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant infections in Guangdong, China, May to June 2021

[tetano]

• Min Kang^1,* , Hualei Xin^2,* , Jun Yuan³ , Sheikh Taslim Ali^2,4 , Zimian Liang⁵ , Jiayi Zhang¹ , Ting Hu¹ , Eric HY Lau^2,4 , Yingtao Zhang¹ , Meng Zhang¹ , Benjamin J Cowling^2,4 , Yan Li^1,** , Peng Wu^2,4,**

Background

The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 had become predominant globally by November 2021.

Aim

We evaluated transmission dynamics and epidemiological characteristics of the Delta variant in an outbreak in southern China.

Methods

Data on confirmed COVID-19 cases and their close contacts were retrospectively collected from the outbreak that occurred in Guangdong, China in May and June 2021. Key epidemiological parameters, temporal trend of viral loads and secondary attack rates were estimated. We also evaluated the association of vaccination with viral load and transmission.

Results

We identified 167 patients infected with the Delta variant in the Guangdong outbreak. Mean estimates of latent and incubation period were 3.9 days and 5.8 days, respectively. Relatively higher viral load was observed in infections with Delta than in infections with wild-type SARS-CoV-2. Secondary attack rate among close contacts of cases with Delta was 1.4%, and 73.1% (95% credible interval (CrI): 32.9–91.4) of the transmissions occurred before onset. Index cases without vaccination (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.84; 95% CI: 1.19–8.45) or with an incomplete vaccination series (aOR: 6.02; 95% CI: 2.45–18.16) were more likely to transmit infection to their contacts than those who had received the complete primary vaccination series.

Discussion

Patients infected with the Delta variant had more rapid symptom onset compared with the wild type. The time-varying serial interval should be accounted for in estimation of reproduction numbers. The higher viral load and higher risk of pre-symptomatic transmission indicated the challenges in control of infections with the Delta variant.

full article

https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.10.2100815#abstract_content

[sharon sanders]

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