WHO classifies India Covid-19 variant as a global concern
The World Health Organization has classified the coronavirus variant first found in India as a global concern, saying studies show there is some evidence that the mutation spreads more easily than other variants.
PRETORIA, May 11 (ANA) – The World Health Organization has classified the coronavirus variant first found in India as a global concern, saying studies show there is some evidence that the mutation spreads more easily than other variants.
“There is some available information to suggest increased transmissibility of B.1.617.
“We are classifying this as a variant of concern at a global level,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO technical lead on Covid-19, during a briefing on Monday.
Van Kerkhove added that the variant was still under further study.
Also speaking at the briefing, the WHO’s chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, said that studies were under way to examine the variant’s transmissibility, the severity of disease it causes and the response of antibodies in people who have been vaccinated.
Swaminathan added that vaccines will continue to be effective against the Indian variant.
According to the BBC, the Indian government has said there is evidence of a link between the variant and India’s deadly second wave, but that the correlation is yet to be fully established.
The variant has already spread to other countries, and many nations have moved to cut or restrict movements from India.
India is experiencing a devastating second wave of the pandemic, with more than 22 million infections and 250,025 deaths.
Authorities are scrambling to add more beds, sending oxygen from one corner of the country to another, and scaling up the manufacture of the few drugs effective against Covid-19.
In a desperate attempt to stay immune from the virus, in the state of Gujarat, people unable to get oxygen or hospital care are visiting cow shelters and covering themselves in cow dung, the Daily Mail UK said in its report.
The UK publication said some Hindus believe the faeces from a cow – an animal considered holy – will boost their immune systems and help to both prevent and cure the virus.
However, doctors say this “treatment” does not work and risks spreading the virus faster, the Daily Mail UK added.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher