Washington DC: Rochelle Walensky, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the Delta variant is the second most prevalent Covid – 19 mutations in the US and is predicted to become the predominant one in the coming weeks.

Speaking to the media persons at press briefing on Thursday, Walensky also underscored the correlation that exists between the low vaccination rates and the spread of the Delta variant. As per the reports the Delta strain is believed to be the fastest spreading and most contagious Covid – 19 variant.

She also said an estimated 25% of all reported SARS-COV-2 sequences nationwide are the Delta variants, and in some regions of the country, nearly one in two sequences is a Delta variant, she added, as quoted by Sputnik.

WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri Klug said on Thursday that a ten week decline in the number of Covid – 19 cases in the 53 countries in the WHO European Region has come to an end.

This is taking place in the context of a rapidly evolving situation; a new variant of concern the Delta variant; and in a Region where despite tremendous efforts by the Member States, millions remain unvaccinated, he said.

According to the UN news report the Delta variant of Covid – 19 have spread to 16 countries and it is present in three of the five nations reporting the highest caseloads. The variant is the most contagious yet up to 60% more transmissible than other variants. Along with Alpha and Beta, Delta is fuelling an aggressive third wave across Africa, with case numbers climbing faster than all earlier peaks, according to the WHO, with cases now doubling in Africa every three weeks.

WHO experts warned on Thursday that the numbers have increased for six consecutive weeks up by 25% last week. Deaths also rose by 15% across 38 African countries.

The WHO’s Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan has said all Covid – 19 vaccines that have been approved by the WHO are effective at preventing severe disease and death caused by the highly contagious Delta variant.