WHO switches to Greek alphabet for virus variant names

Factfile on SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern or interest, including B.1.617 circulating widely in India.

The new system applies to variants of concern -- the most troubling of which four are in circulation

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

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.

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.

The B.1.617.1 variant of interest is called Kappa.

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.

- 'Stigmatising and discriminatory'

"As a result, people often resort to calling variants by the places where they are detected, which is stigmatising and discriminatory.

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.

They lay some of the blame with former president Donald Trump, who repeatedly referred to Covid-19 as the "China virus".

The Greek alphabet contains 24 letters but there is no plan yet as to where to go next if they are exhausted.

rjm/ach 

...