Delta variant triggers 'fourth wave' in the Middle East, says WHO

Ahmed al-Mandhari, director of WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region, in a statement, said that most of the cases and hospitalised patients are unvaccinated and called it the 'fourth wave' of COVID across the region.

The World Health Organization on Thursday said the Delta variant has led to a 'surge' in cases of coronavirus triggering a 'fourth wave' in the Middle East. It also said that the highly transmissible strain, which was first detected in India, has been recorded in 15 countries. 

Ahmed al-Mandhari, director of WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region, in a statement, said that most of the cases and hospitalised patients are unvaccinated and called it the 'fourth wave' of COVID across the region. The world health body said the circulation of this variant is creating a surge in cases and deaths in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

It further said that by the last week of July, only 41 million people which is 5.5 per cent of the region's population, have been fully vaccinated. The infections have increased by 55 per cent and deaths by 15 per cent as compared to the previous month. 

Critical shortages of oxygen tanks and intensive care beds have stretched the capacities of healthcare systems regionally. Iran, Iraq, Tunisia, and Libya are the countries worst hit by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the Middle East. The low rate of vaccination in the region, coupled with the increased transmissibility of the delta variant of the coronavirus, remains a major cause for concern.