COVID-19 Delta variant still ‘most concerning’, say WHO experts

(United Nations News) Even with the emergence of the new Mu COVID-19 variant, the Delta strain remains the top concern globally, appearing to “outcompete” others, senior officials with the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

“I think the Delta variant for me is the one that’s most concerning because of the increased transmissibility,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the agency’s Technical Lead for COVID-19, speaking during an online question and answer session.

“It’s doubly transmissible compared to the ancestral strain, which means that it can spread to more people.”

Dr. Van Kerkhove said that Delta continues to evolve and scientists are studying to see how the virus might be changing, with new variants continuing to emerge.

Last week, WHO announced it was closely monitoring the Mu variant, also known as B.1621, which was first identified in Colombia in January 2021.  It is among five “variants of interest” the agency is tracking at the global level.

Read more at: United Nations News

Source: CARICOM TODAY