the original covid 19 evolved into the alpha/UK variant. this variant was about 50% more contagious so it displaced the original covid in cases. now the delta variant is about 50% more infectious than the alpha variant and has pushed the alpha variant out due to natural selection.
So is the original covid still circulating or has it been pushed into near extinction in the wild by the alpha and delta variant?
will the delta variant push all the other variants (alpha, beta, gamma, epsilon) into extinction?
Hubs came down with the original version in May. Delta is in Arizona, but last I heard its not in my county.
Not doubting … just curious how you all learned this.
I’ve been concerned that not enough sampling for strains/variants has been done in the U.S. But your account – anecdotal though it may be – might mean that such testing is becoming more routine.
I got my info from the Yavapai County Health department. They have been testing for the delta version, and hubs was tested and treated in Yavapai County. According to what I understand, the Delta version has not been found in Yavapai County. It has been found in the Navajao lands just west of us and in Phoenix which is south of us, so it won’t be long for Yavapai.
It’s not like the viruses get together and arm-wrestle to decide who gets to infect the next host. The only way one variant would go extinct would be if every host that variant attempts to infect has already been infected (or vaccinated). In other words, herd immunity.
Now, it’s conceivable that we’ve hit the point of herd immunity for at least some of the variants. But I’m not that optimistic.