SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications
Press - Variants of concern are The B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), B.1.617.2 (Delta), and P.1 (Gamma)
A
US government SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group (SIG) interagency
group developed a Variant Classification scheme that defines three classes
of SARS-CoV-2 variants:
Genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been emerging and circulating around the world throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, change over time. Most changes have little to no impact on the virus’ properties. However, some changes may affect the virus’s properties, such as how easily it spreads, the associated disease severity, or the performance of vaccines, therapeutic medicines, diagnostic tools, or other public health and social measures.
WHO, in collaboration with partners, expert networks, national authorities, institutions and researchers have been monitoring and assessing the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 since January 2020. During late 2020, the emergence of variants that posed an increased risk to global public health prompted the characterization of specific Variants of Interest (VOIs) and Variants of Concern (VOCs), in order to prioritise global monitoring and research, and ultimately to inform the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHO
and its international networks of experts are monitoring changes to the
virus so that if significant amino acid substitutions are identified,
we can inform countries and the public about any changes that may
be needed to respond to the variant, and prevent
its spread. Globally, systems have been established and are being
strengthened to detect “signals” of potential VOIs or VOCs and
assess these based on the risk posed to global public health. National
authorities may choose to designate other variants of local
interest/concern.
Reducing transmission through established and proven disease control methods measures, as well as avoiding introductions into animal populations, are crucial aspects of the global strategy to reduce the occurrence of mutations that have negative public health implications.
Current
strategies and measures recommended by WHO continue to work against virus
variants identified since the start of the pandemic. Evidence from
multiple countries with extensive transmission of VOCs has indicated that
public health and social measures (PHSM), including infection prevention
and control (IPC) measures, have been effective in reducing COVID-19 cases,
hospitalizations and deaths.
Source: WHO
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