The Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus now accounts for nearly all of the coronavirus infections globally, fuelled by the unchecked spread of the novel coronavirus in many parts of the world. 

So far, vaccines are still able to defend against serious disease and death from Delta, but scientists remain on alert.

Here is what we know:

Delta - still dominant

The Delta variant, first detected in India in December 2020, remains the most worrisome version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The World Health Organization classifies Delta as...