Israel: 6 pregnant women diagnosed with UK virus variant hospitalized in serious condition
The UK variant is said to be 50% to 70% more contagious and potentially more deadly than the original strain
Israel's Health Ministry reported on Saturday that the British variant of the coronavirus has been detected in six pregnant women hospitalized in serious condition.
The ministry said it had taken samples from 10 pregnant women and that of the seven samples whose sequencing had been completed so far, six contained the British strain.
"In light of recent findings on variants, pregnant women will be given priority for vaccines. Any pregnant woman who wishes can now be vaccinated," the ministry said in a statement.
Recent medical research has shown that the British variant is potentially more dangerous for pregnant women, leading to complications for expecting mothers and their unborn children.
In light of the development, the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Committee called for a global expansion of genomic sequencing and data sharing, as well as greater scientific collaboration to address the "fundamental unknowns" regarding the disease.
The WHO committee also urged that a "standardized system" be created for naming new variants that avoids any geographic or political "stigmatization."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the British variant, said to be 50-to-70 percent more contagious and potentially more deadly than the original strain, underscores the dangers of coronavirus mutations and the vigilance needed to prevent its spread.
"It also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant... may be associated with a higher degree of mortality," Johnson said at a Downing Street news conference earlier this week.