WHO: "Indo-bal Variant Virus Spreads to 44 Countries Worldwide"

UK Ranks Second After India in Most Cases

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on the 12th (local time) that the COVID-19 variant originating from India has been detected in 44 countries worldwide.

According to AFP, the WHO explained that the Indian variant (B.1.617), first identified locally in October last year, has now been confirmed in 44 countries across six global regions.

The WHO divides the world into six regions: Africa, the Americas, Southeast Asia, Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Western Pacific.

The WHO added, "Reports indicate that it has also been detected in an additional five countries," and "excluding India, the United Kingdom is the country with the largest spread."

On the 10th, the day before, the WHO designated B.1.617, which originated in India, as a 'variant of concern.' This is the fourth such designation following variants from the UK, Brazil, and South Africa.

A variant of concern means it is more dangerous than the original virus in terms of transmissibility, severity, and potential to evade vaccines. Until now, the Indian variant had been classified as a 'variant of interest.'

The WHO considers B.1.617 to be more transmissible than the original virus based on its rapid spread in multiple countries.

The WHO pointed to the spread of B.1.617 as one of the reasons for the explosive increase in confirmed cases in India.

In India, the daily new confirmed cases have recently hovered around 400,000 over the past week, indicating an indiscriminate spread of COVID-19.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.