The Indian variant is now present in 44 countries. This was announced on May 12 the World Health Organization (WHO), adding that it had also received “detection notifications in five other countries“.

Read also: Covid: five things to know about the Indian variant

Outbreak in India

This B.1.617 variant, which first appeared in India in October, may have played a role in the current outbreak in the country. 4,000 people die there every day from covid-19 and the total toll of the epidemic is close to 250,000 deaths. Figures probably underestimated because the epidemic has spread to rural areas, where hospitals are scarce and do not keep records.

Apart from India, it is in Great Britain that the greatest number of cases of contamination with the B.1.617 variant has been detected.

A new case in Hauts-de-France

In France, the Indian variant was detected for the first time at the end of April in five people: two in Lot-et-Garonne, one in Bordeaux and two in Bouches-du-Rhône.

On May 11, a new case was identified in Hauts-de-France, in a man of Indian nationality “accommodated” in the North and returning from a stay in India.

A “system for detecting and monitoring possible cases of infection of the B.1.617 variant has been set up“throughout the territory, with the shipment”in a systematic way for the realization of a sequencing, any positive test of a person returning from India in the last 14 days or having been in close contact with a person returning from India“recalled the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Hauts-de-France.

“Worrisome” because more contagious

The Indian variant has just been classified on May 10 by the WHO as “worryingIt thus joins the list of three other variants: the British variant, the Brazilian variant and the South African variant. All are considered to be more dangerous than the original version of the coronavirus, either because they are more contagious, deadly or resistant to certain vaccines.

Regarding the Indian variant, the first data show that it would be more contagious than the historical strain of the coronavirus.

An effect also on the antibodies?

But according to laboratory experiments, it could also attenuate the response of antibodies that fight the virus, worries the WHO. Observations to be verified in real conditions to know to what extent this characteristic could or not impact the effectiveness of vaccines against this variant.

Until we get to know this strain better, respecting barrier gestures remains the best way to fight the epidemic. “We will continue to see variants of concern, and everything possible must be done to limit transmission, limit infections, prevent contagion and reduce the severity of the disease.“in particular by wearing a mask and social distancing,” insisted Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, technical manager of the fight against covid-19 within the WHO at a conference on May 10.