A new COVID-19 variant, B.1.617, first identified in India, has now been detected in 49 other countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO has escalated B.1.617 to a variant of concern due to its increased transmissibility and potential resistance to existing COVID-19 treatments and antibodies. This development comes amid India's alarming surge in COVID-19 cases, with over 23 million confirmed infections.
Health experts attribute the sharp rise in new cases to the B.1.617 variant, which spreads more rapidly than previous strains. The swift transmission has also led to a spike in severe cases of a life-threatening fungal infection known as \"black fungus.\" This infection begins in the sinuses and can extend to the brain, with symptoms such as facial swelling, congestion, and black lesions appearing weeks after a COVID-19 infection.
According to the WHO, India accounts for about 50 percent of all new coronavirus cases globally over the past week, highlighting the variant's significant impact on public health both locally and internationally.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
