B.1.617 Variant Of Coronavirus Now Detected In 53 Countries: WHO

The B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus has been officially documented in 53 different territories according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Moreover, unofficial sources have also confirmed to WHO that the concerned variant has been discovered in seven other territories as well that takes the total toll to 60.

The severity of the disease along with the risk of infection is being probed even though the report mentions that B.1.617 has been displaying enhanced transmissibility.

Similarly, the WHO also scrutinized the extent to which each detected variant has spread. The B.1.1.7 variant first reported in Britain has been reported in 149 separate territories.

Accordingly, the B.1.351 and P.1 variants first noted in South Africa and Brazil respectively have now been recorded in 102 and 59 territories each.

“Virus evolution is expected, and the more SARS-CoV-2 circulates, the more opportunities it has to evolve,” the report read as per The Economic Times.

It added, “Reducing transmission through established and proven disease-control methods... are crucial aspects of the global strategy to reduce the occurrence of mutations that have negative public health implications.”

Additionally, the B.1.617 variant has been branched into three different lineages, i.e. B.1.617.1, B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3, which have been further noted in 41, 53 and six territories respectively.