WHO Announces New COVID Variant ‘Delta Plus’ Claim ‘Originated In India’

(THECOUNT) — File this under, here we go again.. On May 10th, 2023, The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that a new variant of the COVID-19 virus had been identified in several countries, raising concerns about the efficacy of existing vaccines.

The variant, which has been dubbed “Delta Plus,” is believed to have originated in India and has since been detected in the United Kingdom, the United States, and several other countries. According to initial reports, the Delta Plus variant appears to be more contagious than previous strains of the virus and may be able to evade some of the immunity provided by existing COVID-19 vaccines.

The WHO has expressed concern about the potential impact of the Delta Plus variant on global efforts to control the pandemic. In a statement, the organization urged countries to increase their efforts to track and contain the spread of the virus and to accelerate their vaccine rollout programs.

Several countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, have already announced plans to ramp up their vaccination efforts in response to the new variant. In the UK, authorities have announced that they will begin offering booster shots to vulnerable populations in the coming weeks, while in the US, health officials are exploring the possibility of updating existing vaccines to better target the Delta Plus variant.

Meanwhile, researchers around the world are working to gather more information on the Delta Plus variant and its potential impact on the pandemic. In India, where the variant was first identified, authorities have launched a major research effort to better understand the virus and its transmission patterns.

The emergence of the Delta Plus variant comes as many countries around the world are struggling to contain the pandemic and as vaccination efforts continue to face significant challenges. While the full impact of the new variant remains unclear, the WHO and other health experts warn that it underscores the need for continued vigilance and collaboration in the global fight against COVID-19.