First Case of Indian Variant Detected in RI, WHO Names It Strain of “Global Concern”

First Case of Indian Variant Detected in RI, WHO Names It Strain of “Global Concern”

The Rhode Island Department of Health is reporting the first case of the Indian coronavirus variant B.1.61 in the state.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that the coronavirus variant first identified in India last year was being classified as a variant of global concern, with some preliminary studies showing that it spreads more easily.

 

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WATCH Former RI Director of Health Michael Fine on GoLocal LIVE today at 1:30 PM Discuss the impact of the Indian variant on RI.

 

About Variant

The B.1.617 variant is the fourth variant to be designated as being of global concern and requiring heightened tracking and analysis. The others are those first detected in Britain, South Africa and Brazil.

"We are classifying this as a variant of concern at a global level," Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead on COVID-19, told a briefing. "There is some available information to suggest increased transmissibility."

Indian coronavirus infections and deaths held close to record daily highs on Monday, increasing calls for the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lock down the world’s second-most populous country.

B.1.617.2 has rapidly expanded its footprint in some regions, and lab tests show that it can lead to a high viral load.

It isn’t clear yet if they are more resistant to vaccines or immunity from a past infection.

RIDOH has only sequenced 2,348 samples.