Israel detects 7 cases of new COVID-19 variant

Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-17 00:19:07|Editor: huaxia

JERUSALEM, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Seven cases of a new "double mutant" variant of COVID-19 were detected in Israel, the country's Ministry of Health said on Friday.

This is the B.1.617 variant that was recently identified in India, and now it has been detected for the first time in Israel.

The seven cases were diagnosed by genetic sequencing tests in unvaccinated Israelis that returned from abroad, the ministry noted.

"There is still no clear information regarding the variant and its implications for the vaccinated and the recovered," the ministry added.

Earlier on Friday, an official of the World Health Organization (WHO) said at a press conference in Geneva that the B.1.617 variant could bring about "increased transmissibility."

The Indian Health Ministry recently issued an official statement, saying that the variant could increase rates of infection and bypass immune defenses. Enditem

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