WHO classifies Indian COVID-19 strain as ‘variant of concern’
The findings were revealed by Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 Technical Lead at the WHO
The B-1617 variant of the coronavirus was first identified in India last October
The UN health agency said the variant seemed to transmit more quickly than the original version of the virus
WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan said the mutant was more contagious but not resistant to vaccines
The health agency advocates constant vigilance and adoption of precautionary measures to prevent the spread
