The B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus, which was first identified in India last year,  has now been found in 44 countries, says the World Health Organization (WHO) and has been classified it as a 'variant of concern'.

"As of May 11, over 4,500 sequences have been uploaded to GISAID and assigned to B.1.617 from 44 countries in all six WHO regions," the global health body said in its latest weekly epidemiological update published on Tuesday.

GISAID is a global science initiative and primary source that provides open access to genomic data of the novel coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHO has also characterized the lineage B.1.617 as a variant of concern (VOC). Variants of concern are those considered more dangerous than the original form of the virus first seen in China in late 2019.

That danger stems from a variant's higher transmissibility, lethality, and resistance to vaccines, or either of them.B.1.617 contains three sub-lineages, which differ by few but potentially relevant mutations in the spike protein - this helps the virus enter the human cells, as well as the prevalence of detection globally.

"At present, WHO has designated B.1.617 as a VOC based on early evidence of phenotypic impacts compared to other circulating virus variants," WHO said.

Israel declares emergency near Tel Aviv, find out what's the whole matter

Bangladesh aircraft carrying China-contributed vaccines reaches Dhaka

China's economic recovery: UN report forecasts stronger world economic growth