What is the difference between the COVID variants?
Recently the COVID-19 variants went through a name change. Confused about which variant is what? Here’s an easy to understand list of all the different COVID-19 variants and their new names.
But first, why did they change the names?
To avoid stigmatisation. By naming the variants after where they were identified, it can have long-lasting damage to a nation’s identity. According to Professor of Microbial Evolution, Ed Feil, using geographical names can stoke up racism and xenophobia. Additionally, by naming the variants with the country it was first identified in, it can act as a disincentive for nations to detect new variants as it is harmful to their national image. It can also be an inaccurate label, as there is a chance the variant did not actually originate from the country that first identified it.
Instead, the World Health Organization (WHO) has used the Greek alphabet as a way to differentiate the COVID-19 variants in an attempt to remove stigma. This now allows for governments and individuals to clearly identify the various strains without having to attach a nation’s name to it. Here’s a list:
Alpha
Originally identified in the UK in September 2020
This was the strain that caused the UK lockdown in January
Other previous names for this variant include the UK variant, the Kent variant and B.1.1.7.
Beta
Originally identified in South Africa in May 2020
It is the oldest of the variants
Other previous names for variant include B.1.351 and the South African variant
Gamma
Originally identified in Japan, in travellers from Brazil in November 2020
It was responsible for a surge in cases in Manaus, Brazil where it was thought that the population had reached herd immunity
The strain is also known as P1 and the Brazilian variant
Delta
Originally identified in India in October 2020
It is considered a highly contagious strain and is classified as a variant of concern by the WHO
Its other names include B.1.617.2 and the Indian variant (not to be confused with the other ‘Indian variant’. Yes, there are two under that former name, we’ll explain why in a moment)
Kappa
Also originally identified in India, the Kappa variant (also known as B.1.617.1.) is similar to the Delta variant as it originated from the same strain
The WHO treats Kappa as a variant of interest, compared to Delta which is considered a variant of concern
According to Burnet Institute epidemiologist Mike Toole, "we don't know much about the Kappa variant because it more or less died out very quickly in India and the UK and was replaced by the Delta variant”