The World Health Organization says it’s still unclear how much the coronavirus variant B.1.617 has contributed to the outbreak. The World Health Organization underlines that India, like many other countries, only sequences a small percentage of positive samples. The study comes amid mounting criticism of India’s government’s response to the deadly viral outbreak.
Recently, India recorded over 360,000 new cases and over 4,200 deaths, the greatest daily death toll since the pandemic began. More than 250,000 people have died in India as a result of the virus, though experts believe the true toll is much higher. They point to a perfect storm of public health failures in recent months, such as allowing massive political gatherings and religious holidays.
Another strain known as B.1.617, first found in Britain and now prominent in the, may potentially be driving the increase in infections, according to the World Health Organization. It’s unclear whether the virus causes more severe Covid-, but doctors in India are reporting an increase in the number of young people and children who have tested positive. However, until more genetic sequencing is done, it will be impossible to establish if the mutation is to blame.
The B.1.617 coronavirus strain, which was discovered in October 2020, has been banned by the World Health Organization. It is the fourth type of concern listed by the, with at least 49 countries affected. According to a scientist, it appears to be the most transmissible hazard at the moment.
B.1.617 is rapidly expanding in India, accounting for approximately 28% of positive test samples. Most vaccines are expected to remain effective against the variation, according to experts. Antibodies produced by infections with other variants may have a harder time sticking to them if they have other mutations.
Virologists from India claim there isn’t enough evidence to say whether B.1.617 or a variation causes the condition to be more severe. Officials in India are attempting to determine how many persons who have been fully vaccinated have been unwell. If a variant is responsible for an unusually high number of these so-called breakthroughs, this could indicate the variant’s capacity to resist vaccination.
