Washington, Dec 3 (IANS): The overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 64.4 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.49 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.
In its latest update on Thursday, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 64,447,657 and 1,491,559, respectively.
The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 13,916,543 and 273,316, respectively, according to the CSSE.
India comes in second place in terms of cases at 9,499,413, while the country's death toll soared to 138,122.
The other countries with more than a million confirmed cases are Brazil (6,436,650), Russia (2,327,105), France (2,275,677), Spain (1,665,775), the UK (1,663,467), Italy (1,641,610), Argentina (1,440,103), Colombia (1,334,089), Mexico (1,133,613), Germany (1,106,074) and Poland (1,013,747), the CSSE figures showed.
Brazil currently accounts for the second highest number of fatalities at 174,515.
The countries with a death toll above 20,000 are Mexico (107,565), the UK (59,796), Italy (57,045), France (52,822), Iran (48,990), Spain (45,784), Russia (40,630), Argentina (39,156), Colombia (37,117), Peru (35,966) and South Africa (21,709).
IANS adds: Interpol has issued a global alert to the law enforcement agencies across its 194-member countries warning them to prepare for organised crime networks targeting Covid-19 vaccines, both physically and online.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Interpol, which is headquartered in France said that its orange notice outlines potential criminal activity in relation to the "falsification, theft and illegal advertising of Covid-19 and flu vaccines", with the pandemic having already triggered unprecedented opportunistic and predatory criminal behaviour.
It also includes examples of crimes where individuals have been advertising, selling and administering fake vaccines.
"As a number of Covid-19 vaccines come closer to approval and global distribution, ensuring the safety of the supply chain and identifying illicit websites selling fake products will be essential," it warned.
"The need for coordination between law enforcement and health regulatory bodies will also play a vital role to ensure the safety of individuals and wellbeing of communities are protected," the Interpol said.
Jurgen Stock, Interpol Secretary General said: "As governments are preparing to roll out vaccines, criminal organisations are planning to infiltrate or disrupt supply chains."
"Criminal networks will also be targeting unsuspecting members of the public via fake websites and false cures, which could pose a significant risk to their health, even their lives," Stock said.
"It is essential that law enforcement is as prepared as possible for what will be an onslaught of all types of criminal activity linked to the Covid-19 vaccine, which is why Interpol has issued this global warning," the Secretary General added.
It further said that as international travel gradually resumes, it is likely that testing for the virus will become of greater importance, resulting in a parallel production and distribution of "unauthorised and falsified" testing kits.
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