COVID-19 Variant Names Could Reportedly Change Once The WHO Runs Out Of Greek Alphabet
The WHO is reportedly working on which naming system comes after Delta and Mu.
After the World Health Organization (WHO) labelled the "Mu Variant" a variant of interest on August 31, the global agency is now officially halfway through the Greek alphabet for its new naming convention.
And if you're wondering what happens if they run out of Greek letters, the WHO is ahead of you — according to an article in The Telegraph, they're thinking of constellations.
Maria Van Kerkhove, an American epidemiologist and technical lead on COVID-19 at the WHO, told The Telegraph in August that star constellations were the frontrunner for naming variants of interest and variants of concern if they reach the end of the 24-letter Greek alphabet.
According to The Telegraph, the WHO considered Greek gods and goddesses but they ultimately dismissed the idea in part due to pronunciation difficulties.
The variants used to be named after the countries where they were identified but were later changed due to concerns of stigmatization and discrimination against the respective countries and people.