WHO declares Indian coronavirus form a 'variant of global concern'


Geneva, May 11 (IANS): The Indian Coronavirus variant, known as B1617, has been declared as a "variant of global concern" by the World Health Organization (WHO), the media reported.

The B1617 variant was, till now, deemed a 'variant of interest' by the WHO.

The global health body, in a press conference held on Monday, said preliminary studies show the B1617 mutation spreads more easily than other variants and the original virus. The variant has already spread to more than 30 countries, according to the WHO.

The WHO had already classified the UK (B117), South African (B1351) and Brazilian (P1) variants of Covid-19 as "variants of concern."

A mutation is elevated from a "variant of interest" to a "variant of concern" (VOC) when it shows evidence of fulfilling at least one of several criteria, including easy transmission, more severe illness, reduced neutralisation by antibodies or reduced effectiveness of treatment and vaccines.

"And as such we are classifying this as a variant of concern at the global level," Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead for Covid-19, said during a press conference.

"Even though there is increased transmissibility demonstrated by some preliminary studies, we need much more information about this virus variant in this lineage in all of the sublineages, so we need more sequencing, targeted sequencing to be done."

The WHO also said that there is some evidence that the B1617 variant may also be able to evade some of the protections provided by vaccines.

However, it added that "Based on current data, the Covid-19 vaccines remain effective at preventing disease and death in people infected with this variant," it said in a statement.

The WHO said last week it was closely following at least 10 coronavirus variants across the world, including the B1617. The variant was previously labeled a "variant of interest" as more studies were needed to completely understand its significance, Van Kerkhove said, the CNBC reported.

"What it means for anybody at home is any of the SARS-CoV-2 viruses circulating can infect you and spread and everything in that sense is of concern," Van Kerkhove said.

"So, all of us at home, no matter where we live, no matter what virus is circulating, we need to make sure that we take all of the measures at hand to prevent ourselves from getting sick," she added.

India on Tuesday recorded 3,29,942 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours with 3,876 fatalities, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

The WHO Foundation on Monday also launched the "Together for India" initiative to raise funds to support WHO's work in India, including the purchase of oxygen, personal protective equipment and medicines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • AF,,, Mangaluru

    Wed, May 12 2021

    India is Aathmanirbar country we may not need any support from other nation, our PM is rejected financial aid from gulf when Kerala was hit by flood. Jai. Modiji

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwyn, Mangalore

    Wed, May 12 2021

    WHO declares Indian Modi Shah coronavirus form a 'variant of global concern'

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sunil K, Mangalore

    Tue, May 11 2021

    @sri_elder, Karkala - Don't reveal your suggestions in public. Modi may decide to use Karkala as a test case and seal your entire town for six months or maybe a year - no outside contact, no supplies, no movement, no functions etc.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Wed, May 12 2021

    @Sunil K Mangalore- it was my reply to Prakash Mangalore, who wanted to know how Chinese managed to contain virus while we Indians struggle contain the virus. Just by successful lockdown virus stops temporarily. But virus enters from other routes like air traffic and through sea traffic. Those are the important boundaries to check! It is a continuous process!.. still there are covid positive cases, active cases in china, see worldometer.com, but there are no outbreaks like in India. They are able to contain through testing, isolation and quarantine.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • John, Mangalore

    Tue, May 11 2021

    In the first place pilot testing these hurriedly short term tested vaccines in a particular district or two for each type of vaccine in a different states for a month or two keeping ready vital emergency medical staff and equipments and then going for the full scale mass vaccination was the better option. Some of these vaccines have not completed proper third phase testing. Now difficult to isolate whether is a virus mutant or vaccine generated mutants. Blindly believing in this communist chinese virus and communist leaning liberal western vaccines these things bound to happen. Communist leaning WHO now says It is an Indian variant?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Charles D'Mello, Pangala

    Tue, May 11 2021

    WHO is another crooked body which do not give much importance to our Ayurvedic Medicines. They know that virus is mutating and this is not a new thing we need to hear from them. Common cold and fever might have affected me (Atleast 30 times) since I was born in 1962. This is going to continue for some time and then going to subside. At least I am not scared about this big bhooth called Corona created by WHO or any medical professionals. Eat healthy raw vegetables/greens and reduce or do not eat meat products. Eat plant based products and do not worry about Corona. This is my principle.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, May 11 2021

    Why is WHO scared to blame China ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Daniel, Mangalore

    Tue, May 11 2021

    WHO'S hypocrisy. They call Brazilian mutation as Brazilian variant, SA's mutation as their mutation, India's as Indian mutation. Then why can't we call the first virus with the name it came from? wuhan virus is a bio weapon from the CCP. Even the flu was called Spanish flu...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • sense_Shetty, Mangalore

    Tue, May 11 2021

    This WHO is Mice of Pfizer and China .. The Virus is Wuhan Virus .. They popularised it as Covid virus to save china and its image ..Now they want to target India by naming it as Indian variant .. This WHO needs to be fixed first place.. Useless ..like other world bodies which are mere control mechanisms of the US China and likes

    DisAgree [5] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ajay Rebello, Kallianpur

    Tue, May 11 2021

    Sir while the disease is called Covid the virus strains start from Wu.H.1 which stands for Wuhan virus strain 1 while the newer strains are also country coded for easier research. Please understand that WHO is a diplomatic body and cannot demand anything from any country it can only request.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Francis Davis, Mangalore

    Tue, May 11 2021

    Mr.WHO....It is nothing but Dhadiwala virus.. Vaccine will be given in 2024 and virus will be flushed out

    DisAgree [17] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Charan Amin, Mlore

    Tue, May 11 2021

    What's the use of education? Shame on you. When the entire country is suffering you are using the covid platform to criticize pm.

    DisAgree [15] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sanjay, Mangalore

    Tue, May 11 2021

    Very Good you have not only mixed up the given agenda but also brought your shitty political head in between all this. Humanity is above all no party no religion no gender understand it and take your comic sense where everyone is like you .

    DisAgree [4] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prakash.A, Mlore

    Tue, May 11 2021

    Proven or not,this virus must have come from Chinese lab. I still wonder such large and buzzing country like China how do they control it. even with martial law its impossible to contain it to single digits. something is very strange.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Tue, May 11 2021

    They found success by 3 months strict lockdown. Their lockdown was such that one village people cannot enter another village. They stock piled all essential items and entered lockdown. Looks like Chinese people are educated and moreover they have unity to defeat virus. Also they have fear of virus. Moreover they are keeping strict vigilance on air traffic and testing, tracing , 15days quarantine etc and they are able to restrict any imported cases from other countries. It looks like their government officials deliver 100% efficiently unlike Indian officials. They have concerned about their nation and its welfare unlike our Indian general public. True but sad!

    DisAgree [7] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Subhash Chandra, Mangalore

    Tue, May 11 2021

    @ sri_elder - when a govt manufacturers a bio weapon to be used in 3rd world war & some rookie leaks it from lab they took all super extra safety precautions to cover up the whole scene. what happened to those 10 doctors & lab technicians all were shot dead bcoz they knew whole truth. Countries are waiting to topple china it's only a matter of time when full story is uncovered.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • John, Mangalore

    Wed, May 12 2021

    Sri elder, These chinese may be having the cure, their lockdown others to follow and get bankrupt to they can control and rule. 1st place no lockdown was better during 1st outbreak because of herd immunity. This 2nd wave mostly due to covishield, happened in UK, India, somewhat happening in Seycelles,Maldives and nepal though their population is very less compare to ours. These hurriedly tested vaccines seems to be generating mRNA virus for creating antibodies in their body same time looks like affecting close contacts before getting immunity to vaccinated people. Meantime cases getting increased.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Monty Dotor, Mangalore

    Tue, May 11 2021

    who is WHO......

    DisAgree [5] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bala, Kudla

    Tue, May 11 2021

    WHO is not accountable organisation as it still disclosing the corona root base country. Chinese friendly.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • H. Almeida., Bendur/Andheri.

    Tue, May 11 2021

    The WHO is in deed alarmed, at the new Indian mutated virus, B1617... This variant is acknowledged, as the most infectious, fatal, a mortal threat to the entire world !!!! Netas should stop this blatant, ugly politics to degrade the Union government.. They should summarily stop this brinkmanship to gain political brownie points and work collectively to neutralize this imminent third wave that has the potential to decimate our nation !!!!

    DisAgree [14] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sanjay, Hebri

    Tue, May 11 2021

    Its not Indian caronavirus, its mutated China virus. Don't blame India!

    DisAgree [18] Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shetty, Mangalore

    Tue, May 11 2021

    So many communists here with disagreement

    DisAgree [3] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • rolf, Dubai

    Tue, May 11 2021

    Don't worry we will send you Oxygen please do not change the Name of the donner.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anticorrupt, Mangalore /Kuwait

    Tue, May 11 2021

    Why is WHO not talking or declaring where and how the virus originated. WHO is a rogue and corrupt organization.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [38] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: WHO declares Indian coronavirus form a 'variant of global concern'



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.