WHO announces new names for variants of monkeypox virus in circulation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has given new designations to monkeypox virus strains that are currently in circulation. The WHO stated in a statement that this is done to prevent creating any cultural or societal offence.

The WHO assembled a committee of worldwide specialists to settle on the new names, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Clade I refers to the previous Congo Basin clade (group of variations) in Central Africa, whereas Clade II refers to the old West African clade. The latter is divided into two sub-clades, Clade IIa and Clade IIb, with Clade IIb constituting the majority of variations circulating during the 2022 pandemic.

The new names for the clades should be used immediately, according to the WHO.

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According to WHO, newly found viruses, linked disorders, and viral variations should be given names that do not offend any cultural, social, national, regional, professional, or ethnic groups and have the least harmful impact on commerce, travel, tourism, or animal welfare.

The monkeypox virus was named when it was first discovered in 1958. Major variants were identified by the geographic regions where they were known to circulate.

WHO officially declared late July that the current multi-country monkeypox outbreak had turned into a public health emergency of international concern.

According to WHO’s situation report on the monkeypox outbreak published on Wednesday, there have now been 27,814 laboratory-confirmed cases, and 11 deaths from the disease in 89 countries and regions worldwide, with Europe and the Americas being hit the hardest.

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