Using term 'Indian variant' for B.1.617 strain has no basis, WHO has not done so: Health Ministry

WHO South-East Asia also clarified on their Twitter handle that “they do not identify viruses or variants with names of countries they are first reported from.”

Taking umbrage against the B.1.617 mutant of the novel coronavirus being termed an "Indian Variant", the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday said the WHO has not used the word "Indian" for this strain in its document.

The ministry dismissed as "without any basis and unfounded" media reports that have used the term "Indian variant" for the B.1.617 mutant strain, which the WHO recently said was a "variant of global concern".

"Several media reports have covered the news of World Health Organisation (WHO) classifying B.1.617 as variant of global concern. Some of these reports have termed the B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus as an 'Indian Variant'," the ministry said in a statement.

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"These media reports are without any basis, and unfounded," it said.

WHO South-East Asia also clarified on their Twitter handle that “they do not identify viruses or variants with names of countries they are first reported from.”

WHO does not identify viruses or variants with names of countries they are first reported from. We refer to them by their scientific names and request all to do the same for consistency. @PTI_News @PIB_India @ANI @timesofindia @htTweets @IndianExpress @the_hindu @MoHFW_INDIA

— WHO South-East Asia (@WHOSEARO) May 12, 2021

This is to clarify that the WHO has not associated the term "Indian Variant" with the B.1.617 strain of the coronavirus in its 32 page document, said the ministry.

In fact, the word "Indian" has not been used in its report on the matter, the ministry added.

(with inputs from PTI)

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