A group of global experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) has reached consensus on the use of new names for variants of the Monkeypox virus, which causes monkeypox.
The experts agreed to name the clades, or viral groups, using Roman numerals. A new name for the disease and for the virus, however, remains under evaluation. To decide on the nomenclature of the condition, WHO carries out an open consultation, which receives online suggestions.
The virus was named “Monkeypox” after its first discovery in 1958, before new disease and virus naming practices took effect. The main variants were identified by the geographic regions where the circulation was known in West Africa and the Congo Basin (Central Africa).
According to the WHO, the measure is the first step in an ongoing effort to align the scientific community around names for the virus and the disease, in line with current practices.
Current guidance says that newly identified viruses, related diseases and viral variants should be named in order to avoid offending any cultural, social, national, regional, professional or ethnic group and to minimize any negative impact on trade, travel, tourism or property. -being animal.
Naming diseases and viruses have different processes
Assigning new names to existing diseases is the responsibility of WHO in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases and the WHO Family of International Health-Related Classifications.
The naming of virus species is the responsibility of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), which has an ongoing process for the official name of the monkeypox virus.
The variants and viral groups (clades) are usually the result of debate among scientists. In order to expedite agreement in the context of the current outbreak, the WHO convened a meeting on 8 August to allow virologists and public health experts to reach consensus on the new terminology.
Specialists in smallpox virology, evolutionary biology, and representatives of research institutes around the world have reviewed the phylogeny and nomenclature of known and new variants or clades of monkeypox virus.
They discussed the characteristics and evolution of the variants, their apparent phylogenetic and clinical differences, and possible public health consequences, and future virological and evolutionary research.
According to the WHO, the group reached consensus on a new nomenclature for virus groups that is in line with best practice. They agreed on how virus clades should be registered and classified on genomic sequence database sites.
Changes
Consensus has been reached to now refer to the former “Congo Basin (Central Africa)” clade as “Clade one (I)” and the former “West Africa” clade as “Clade two (II)”. Furthermore, it was agreed that “Clade II” consists of two subclades.
With the change, the proper naming structure will be represented by a roman numeral for the clade and a lowercase alphanumeric character for the subclades.
Thus, the new naming convention comprises “Clade I”, “Clade IIa” and “Clade IIb”, with the latter mainly referring to the group of variants that circulated widely in the 2022 global outbreak.
According to the WHO, the naming of the strains will be proposed by scientists as the outbreak evolves and experts will be recalled as needed.
The new names for the viral groups should take effect immediately. The study of changes in disease and virus names remains ongoing.
Source: CNN Brasil
