WHO switches to Greek alphabet for virus variant names

Robin Millard, Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/06/01/20200309-covid-19-generic-photos-niaid.jpg"/><figcaption>Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from a patient. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland.<em> NIAID</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>GENEVA - COVID-19 variants are to be known by letters of the Greek alphabet to avoid stigmatizing nations where they were first detected, the World Health Organization announced Monday.</p><p>The new system applies to variants of concern -- the most troubling of which four are in circulation -- and the second-level variants of interest being tracked.</p><p>&quot;They will not replace existing scientific names, but are aimed to help in public discussion,&quot; said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO&#x27;s COVID-19 technical lead.</p><p>Under the new system, the variants of concern take on the following names: the hitherto so-called British variant B.1.1.7 becomes Alpha; the B.1.351 first discovered in South Africa becomes Beta, while the Brazilian P.1 becomes Gamma.</p><p>The so-called Indian variant B.1.617 is split into sub-lineages, of which the B.1.617.2 variant of concern becomes Delta.</p><p>The B.1.617.1 variant of interest is called Kappa.</p><p>Besides these names, there are two other scientific names in use for each mutation, while different geographic names have been used to describe the same variant.</p><p>For example, within Britain, what other countries have been referring to as the British variant is often called the Kent variant -- the county in southeast England where it was first discovered.</p><p>The lineage names such as B.1.1.7.2 will still continue to be used in scientific circles, for the mutation information that their name conveys.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/04/29/21/contagious-concerning-covid19-variants">Contagious, concerning? What we know about COVID-19 variants</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/26/21/indian-covid-19-variant-found-in-at-least-53-territories-who">Indian COVID -19 variant found in at least 53 territories: WHO</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1683304" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div><strong>&#x27;STIMATIZING AND DISCRIMINATORY&#x27;</strong></div><p>&quot;While they have their advantages, these scientific names can be difficult to say and recall, and are prone to misreporting,&quot; the WHO said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;As a result, people often resort to calling variants by the places where they are detected, which is stigmatizing and discriminatory.</p><p>&quot;To avoid this and to simplify public communications, WHO encourages national authorities, media outlets and others to adopt these new labels.&quot;</p><p>Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden signed a hate crimes law aimed at protecting Asian Americans who have suffered a surge in attacks during the Covid-19 pandemic.</p><p>US anti-extremism groups say the number of attacks and hate crimes against Asian Americans has exploded since the beginning of the crisis.</p><p>They lay some of the blame with former president Donald Trump, who repeatedly referred to Covid-19 as the &quot;China virus&quot;.</p><p>The WHO has been trying to come up with simplified new nomenclature for the variants for several months.</p><p>The Greek alphabet contains 24 letters but there is no plan yet as to where to go next if they are exhausted.</p><p>Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Theta and Iota have already been ascribed to variants of interest.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>COVID-19 variants are to be known by letters of the Greek alphabet to avoid stigmatizing nations where they were first detected, the World Health Organization announced Monday.<br /> </p>

COVID-19 variants are to be known by letters of the Greek alphabet to avoid stigmatizing nations where they were first detected, the World Health Organization announced Monday.

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WHO switches to Greek alphabet for virus variant names

WHO switches to Greek alphabet for virus variant names

Robin Millard,

Agence France-Presse

Published Jun 01, 2021 06:54 AM PHT

|

Updated Jun 01, 2021 12:39 PM PHT

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COVID-19 variants

COVID-19 new variants

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World Health Organization

Greek alphabet

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