WHO: India COVID-19 Variant Now Global Concern; Can This Strain Be More Deadly, Evade Vaccine Efficacy?

The World Health Organization raised new concerns on Monday about a COVID-19 variant that was first described in India in October, citing preliminary studies that suggest it could be more transmissible than other variants.

The variant, known as B.1.617, has been classified as a global "variant of concern" - one of four to receive the designation - after preliminary research revealed that it spreads more easily, making it more infectious and lethal, according to the WHO.

India's Covid-19 Crisis Intensifes — NEW DELHI, INDIA - MAY 02: A medical worker in PPE observes patients who have been infected by Covid-19 inside a makeshift covid care facility in a sports stadium at the Commonwealth Games Village in New Delhi on May 02, 2021 in New Delhi, India. With cases crossing 400,000 a day and with more than 3500 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, India's Covid-19 crisis is intensifying and shows no signs of easing pressure on the country. A new wave of the pandemic has totally overwhelmed the country's healthcare services and has caused crematoriums to operate day and night as the number of victims continues to spiral out of control. Getty Images

Indian COVID-19 Variant Could Evade Vaccine Efficacy

World Health Organization underscored the concern that the Indian COVID-19 variant could evade current vaccine efficacy, posing a global health danger.

"The pattern now is that one person in the family gets it, the whole family seems to get it. This is unlike the first wave. And so I think what we're seeing is more transmissible," WHO chief scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

Similar to the mutants discovered in the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7), South Africa (B.1.351), and Brazil, the variant will now need further monitoring and analysis (P.1).

The effect of the B.1.617 variant comes as India continues to be hit hard by the virus, with regular coronavirus infection rates and deaths nearing all-time highs.

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Indian COVID-19 Variant: How WHO Classifies Variant of Concern

Experts discovered the prevalent lineage of B.1.617 in India in December, WHO said. Although they found an earlier variant in October 2020.

WHO usually classifies a virus as a "variant of concern" if it becomes more infectious, lethal, or resistant to existing vaccinations and treatments.

Van Kerkhove said B.1.617 has three sublineages, which the health agency would add in the situation report on Tuesday.

Some say the variant is to blame for the recent outbreak of infections in India.

Last week, the WHO said in a CNBC report that it monitored at least ten coronavirus variants around the world, including the B.1.617. According to Van Kerkhove, experts previously called the Indian COVID-19 variant a "variant of interest" because further research was required to understand its significance fully.

India's COVID-19 Situation in Numbers

Coronavirus infections and deaths in India reached near-record daily highs on Monday, fueling calls for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to lock down the world's second-most populous country.

As of writing, Johns Hopkins University recorded over 22.6 million people in India have tested positive for COVID-19, with over 246,000 deaths.

"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," said WHO technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove in a CNBC report.

"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.