Ministry of Health and Family Welfare clarified on Wednesdaythat WHO has not associated the term "Indian Variant" with B.1.617,now classified as "Variant of Concern".
Several media reports have covered the news of World HealthOrganisation (WHO) classifying B.1.617 as variant of global concern. Some ofthese reports have termed the B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus as an"Indian Variant".
"These media reports are without any basis, andunfounded. This is to clarify that WHO has not associated the term "IndianVariant" with the B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus in its 32 pagedocument. In fact, the word "Indian" has not been used in its reporton the matter," it said