Mr Soumya Swaminathan, WHO’s chief scientist, has said that the Delta variant, which was first recognised in India, is currently becoming the leading variant of the COVID-19 disease, globally.

On 15th June, the COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update issued by the WHO, stated that the variant has been reported in around 80 countries across the globe, while 12 other countries and areas have reported the detection of B.1.617, but there is no further specification of lineage.

Swaminathan said at a press briefing that the entire situation is dynamic owing to the variants that are in circulation and the Delta variant is becoming the dominant variant around the world due to its increased transmissibility.

Her comments came after Public Health England stated that the number of cases from the Delta variant has increased by 33,630 in a week and has reached a total of 75,953 in the UK. The variant accounts for almost 99% of all the COVID-19 cases in the country. A 79% rise has been noted as compared to the previous week’s count. Vaccinations were opened to all people over 18 years of age in England on Friday.

Meanwhile, US CDC director, Rochelle Walensky said that the Delta variant is expected to become the dominant strain in the US.

The Kremlin in Russia stated that a rise in cases is due to the hesitancy to take vaccinations and “nihilism” as 9,056 new cases were reported in Moscow. The cases were mostly with the Delta variant, raising fears of a third wave. The latest data suggested that 89.3% of people in Moscow who were recently diagnosed with COVID-19 had the mutated, supposed Delta variant.

Top public health officials in Germany have predicted that the Delta variant might become the dominant variant despite intensifying the vaccination rates.

Source: ET Healthworld