RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The biologist and researcher Graciela Russomando affirmed that the Delta variant of Covid-19 will no longer have a significant epidemiological impact in Paraguay since it has been circulating for months without causing great concern.
In addition, she remarked that infection with the P1 or Manaus lineage and vaccination against the virus generated a block that counteracts the infection.
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Some months ago, biologist Russomando stated that the delta variant would not collapse the health system, as feared by the Ministry of Health. Her argument was based on the fact that the P1 lineage of Manaus – which predominated at one stage of the pandemic – had already wreaked havoc and produced immunization in a specific part of the population.
This morning, the National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt) researcher affirmed that considering the context and epidemiological experience, the Delta variant would no longer severely impact our country.
“There cannot be a serious alert (due to the Delta variant). It has been more than two months since the circulation of Delta in Paraguay”, she stated. Likewise, the biologist commented that they would continue to monitor the virus and its respective variants.
Russomando also mentioned that the P1 or Manaus variant infected almost 1,200,000 people in our country, who – she indicated – generated a block that counteracts the delta infection through their immunization.
“Structurally, there are small differences between delta and gamma (Manaus), but in terms of virulence and transmissibility, they were very similar. This has generated a lot of antibodies,” he said.
On the other hand, the Vice-Minister of Health, Dr. Hernán Martínez, confirmed that, according to projections, there is a warning about the possible entry of a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Paraguay due to the circulation of the Delta variant.
He specified that the trend of decreasing cases is expected to continue for two more months and added that they are “prepared” for this epidemiological warning.