WHO says some data may suggest increased risk of delta hospitalization

A senior official at the World Health Organization said data from some countries may suggest that the delta variant carries an increased risk of hospitalization in those infected, but that it does not necessarily kill more people than those infected. other strains.

“In terms of severity, we have seen some countries suggest that there is an increased risk of hospitalization for people infected with the delta variant. We have not seen this translate into an increase in deaths,” Maria said. Van Kerkhove, WHO technical manager on Covid19. People infected with the delta variant “did not die more often than with the other strains,” she said.

Health officials grappled with the issue for months, waiting for real data to occur in countries with high levels of the spread of the delta variant. Van Kerkhove said WHO officials meet daily to discuss the rapidly spreading variant.

Like other strains, the delta variant is particularly dangerous for people with underlying conditions, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, according to WHO officials. However, it is much more contagious than the other variants, so it infects more people and puts a strain on global health systems.

“The risk factors for serious illness and death are the same,” Van Kerkhove said. “If you have any underlying conditions, regardless of your age, you are at an increased risk of hospitalization.”

The Delta variant is also quickly overtaking all other variants wherever it is detected, she said.

“The prevalence of the lambda variant is decreasing… and the delta variant is increasing,” said Van Kerhove. “The delta variant, wherever it is identified, it quickly replaces the other variants that are circulating.”

It is spreading in the countries of Central and South America and is quickly dominating the lambda variant which is currently dominant in this part of the world.

“We still don’t know exactly what the impact of the delta will be on Latin American countries,” Dr Sylvain Aldighieri, Pan American Health Organization incident manager, said in a briefing last week. .

The delta variant, which was first detected by scientists in India in October, has so far spread to at least 142 countries. Found in the United States just a few months ago, it now accounts for more than 90% of all sequenced cases, according to the CDC.

People most at risk in the United States have been fully vaccinated, with booster doses for people with weakened immune systems approved Friday and available for immediate administration.

There are currently discussions about opening booster doses to the general population, a decision that would go against strong WHO recommendations to share doses with the rest of the world before giving boosters to people. who have already received their first injections.

More than 200 million people around the world have been infected with Covid since the start of the pandemic, double the 100 million cases in the past six months. With the rapid spread of the more transmissible delta variant, the number could easily reach 300 million early next year, WHO officials said last week.

“Whether we reach 300 million and how quickly we do it depends on all of us,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week.

CNBC’s Robert Towey contributed to this report.