Cause Of Surge In Infections And Deaths, WHO: India's Variants Become Global Concern

Ilustrasi COVID-19. (Wikimedia Commons/Anna.psiaki)

JAKARTA - Krisi coronavirus in India eased slightly on Tuesday, May 11, after a week-long week of continued daily infections and deaths, causing global concern.

Data of the Ministry of Health of India, daily cases of coronavirus infection in India increased by 329,942, while deaths from the disease increased by 3,876. The total number of cases of coronavirus infection in India now stands at 22.99 million, while the total number of deaths rose to 249,992.

India leads the world in the average daily number of new deaths reported, accounting for one in every three deaths reported worldwide each day. The seven-day average of new cases is at a record high of 390,995. This is due to a record-breaking number of infections and deaths during the past week.

Looking at conditions in India, the World Health Organization (WHO) says the variant of COVID-19, first identified in the country last year, is classified as a variant of global concern, with several preliminary studies showing that the virus is spreading more easily.

"We classify this as a variant of attention on a global level. There has been an increase in transmission indicated by several preliminary studies," WHO Technical Head for COVID-19 Maria Van Kerkhove told Reuters on Tuesday, May 11.

"There is some information available to suggest improved transmission. However, more information is needed about the Indian variant to understand it," said Kerkhove.

Meanwhile, WHO Chief Scientist Doumya Swaminathan said research is being conducted in India to examine variant transmission, the severity of the disease it causes and the antibody response in vaccinated people.

"What we know now is that vaccines work, diagnostics work, the same treatments used for common viruses work, so there's really no need to change any of that," Swaminathan said.

In addition, the Government of India has asked a team of doctors to look for signs of mucormicosis or 'black fungus' in COVID-19 patients, a number as hospitals report an increase in rare but potentially fatal cases of infection.

Diseases that can cause the nose to turn black or discolored, blurred or double vision, chest pain, difficulty breathing and coughing up blood, are strongly associated with diabetes. And diabetes in turn can be exacerbated by steroids like dexamethasone, which is used to treat severe COVID-19.