The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that the highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus has spread to 124 countries and will become the dominant strain worldwide within months.
“It is expected that it will rapidly outcompete other variants and become the dominant circulating lineage over the coming months,” the UN health agency stated in its weekly epidemiological update.
WHO said multiple factors like relaxation of social distancing and inequitable vaccine distribution around the world are driving the spread of Delta variant.
The variant of concern, which was first detected in India, now accounts for more than 75% of COVID-19 cases in many countries including India, Bangladesh, Australia, South Africa, Britain, Singapore, Indonesia, Russia and China, stated the WHO report.
In the US, 83% of coronavirus cases are Delta variant, according to health officials there.
WHO study suggested that the Delta variant may be able to replicate faster and be more infectious during the early stages of infection.
“The evolution of transmission patterns as the pandemic continues will likely be influenced by the impact of the Covid-19 vaccination campaigns and by the emergence of more transmissible variants, or variants with properties of immune escape,” the report said.
