Page 2 - Virus Evolution Working Group News Today

The coronavirus variant first detected in the Philippines, P.3, has been assigned the name “Theta” by the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of a bid to avoid stigmatizing countries where new variants were first discovered.  

United Nations/Geneva, June 1 The B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2 variants of the Covid-19, first identified in India, have been named as 'Kappa' and 'Delta' respectively by the WHO as it named various varia

Here are the new labels given by the World health Organization to 'Covid-19 Variants of Concern and Variants of Interest'.

WHO uses Greek letters to label Sars-CoV-2 variants

The World Health Organization has announced new names for Covid variants to avoid stigma and racism. The media needs to use those labels.

Apart from the B.1.617.2 variant, the B.1.1.7 strain first identified in the United Kingdom has been identified as Alpha variant. The VOCs that were identified in South Africa and Brazil have been named Beta and Gamma respectively.

"No country should be stigmatized for detecting and reporting variants," said WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove.

The novel coronavirus variant prevalent in India is to be called 'Delta' as health body attempts to counter prejudice in discussions of the disease

WHO labels Wuhan virus mutants spotted in India as Delta and Kappa

United Nations/Geneva, June 1 The B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2 variants of the Covid-19, first identified in India, have been named as 'Kappa' and 'Delta' respectively by the WHO as it named various varia