In order toidentify the Covid-19 strain, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday haslabeled the latest Indian strain as “Delta Variant.” Earlier on May 12, Indiahad objected “B.1.617” variant when called the ‘Indian variant’.
Thereafter,the WHO said that names of the viruses or variants should not be identified bythe country names they were found in.
"The labels don't replace existingscientific names, which convey important scientific information and willcontinue to be used in research. No country should be stigmatized for detectingand reporting Covid variants," said Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, Technical leadCOVID-19 at WHO.
However, the variant found earlier in Indiawill be called “Kappa,” said the WHO.
Moreover, the nomenclature system that hasbeen developed for naming and tracking of SARS-CoV-2 genetic lineages will remainin use by the scientists for their research, WHO added.
A group convened by WHO has also recommendedusing the Greek letters which include Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and so on as it “willbe easier and more practical to be discussed by non-scientific audiences.”
It may be noted here, WHO had officially foundlineages of the B.1.617variant in 53 territories and unofficially in sevencountries. As per the research, the variant carries the high potential threat ofspread, while the study is underway to know about its severity and infectionrisk.
The B.1.617 variant was initially found inOctober and as of now, it has spread to 44 countries. "As such, we are classifying this as a variant of concern at theglobal level," it had said. However, prior to this, it was listed as a"variant of interest".
Pertinently,B.1.617 strain is called a double mutant because of change in two virus’s genome i.e. E484Qand L452R.
Meanwhile, the other three strains which have been detectedin Britain, Brazil, and South Africa, are already classified as being "ofconcern".