WHO named Covid-19 variants first found in India as 'Kappa' and 'Delta'

WHO named Covid-19 variants first found in India as 'Kappa' and 'Delta': The World Health Organization (WHO) has named a new variant of the Covid virus after a controversy erupted over the name of the Covid-19 variant, which is based on the name of the country first identified. The WHO named the variant of Concern based on the Greek alphabet.

The World Health Organization has named the variant found in the UK as 'Alpha', the variant found in Brazil as 'Gamma', the variant found in South Africa as 'Beta', and the variant found in India (B1.617.2) as 'Delta'. Another variant (B-1.617.1) found in India has been named 'Kappa'.

India had objected to the recent confirmation of B-1.617.2 and B-1.617.1 variants in Nepal as Indian variants. The Indian Ministry of Communications had instructed the social media company to remove all posts with the word 'Indian variant'.

B-1.617.2 is the latest variant seen in Nepal. Gene sequencing has shown that the virus is highly contagious. B-1.617.2 was listed by the World Health Organization on May 10 as a variant of concern, a deadly virus. Other variants will also be named based on the Greek alphabet.

According to the WHO, the variants were named after much deliberation based on the Greek alphabet. The name is chosen from the Greek alphabet because it affects the area concerned. For example, the Ebola virus was named after the Congolese River.

The origin of the Spanish flu has not yet been determined. However, there has been controversy over whether naming the virus after Spain has affected the country's reputation. That's why alternatives are being sought for the name of the virus, the WHO said.