delta virus

noun

1

: hepatitis d virus

… when the delta virus combines with another virus that causes hepatitis B infection, it produces a much more deadly infection than hepatitis B alone.

—The New York Times

2

: a highly transmissible genetic variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus : delta variant

Breathing shared air, though, brings the delta virus into throats and lungs, its favorite destinations.

—The Asheville (North Carolina) Citizen-Times

Examples of delta virus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Centers for Disease Control reversed its guidance on mask-wearing Tuesday partially because of concerning new research, which indicated that fully vaccinated people can carry large loads of the delta virus in their noses and throats. —Taylor Deville, baltimoresun.com, 9 Aug. 2021

The safest way is to sacrifice the hamster to stop the outbreak of the delta virus strain, which may come from the hamster. —Jinshan Hong, Bloomberg.com, 21 Jan. 2022

Firstly, the recent Covid-19 wave in the U.S. caused by the highly infectious delta virus variant appears to have peaked and investors are likely to seeing value in RCL stock which fell by almost 20% between June and early September. —Trefis Team, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2021

Moreover, the recent Covid-19 wave in the U.S. caused by the highly infectious delta virus variant appears to have peaked and investors are likely to see some value in Norwegian Cruise Line stock, which has declined by almost 25% since early June. —Trefis Team, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2021

This could be driven either by slowing consumer demand, due to the spreading delta virus; or by a limited supply of workers willing to take these jobs. —Harry Holzer, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2021

The Hartford follows several other companies that have delayed plans for workers to return to the offices due to the delta virus. —Stephen Singer, courant.com, 11 Aug. 2021

The effort comes after Colorado and other states have tried lotteries, college scholarships and other incentives to boost slumping vaccination rates as the highly contagious delta virus variant sweeps the nation. —James Anderson, ajc, 10 Aug. 2021

The report indicated the delta virus is highly contagious, can be spread by the fully vaccinated and is causing more breakthrough infections than expected. —Jessica Flores, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Aug. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

delta virus

noun

1

: hepatitis d virus

The delta virus is responsible for a rare form of hepatitis that occurs only in some patients infected with hepatitis B.

—Biotechnology Newswatch

2

: delta variant

The report indicated the delta virus is highly contagious, can be spread by the fully vaccinated and is causing more breakthrough infections than expected.

—Jessica Flores, San Francisco Chronicle