New naming system to name virus variants

GS PAPER II: Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context: The World Health Organisation (WHO) would unveil a system of naming viruses that would be inspired from the way tropical storms are named.

Need:

• This is so as not to stigmatise and deincentivise countries from making their sequencing results public.
• It will also be easier for the lay public to remember rather than these complicated lineage numbers.

How are cyclones across the globe named?

• The World Meteorological Organisation and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UN ESCAP) led Panel on Tropical Cyclones – a global body which also includes regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMC) as well as tropical cyclone warning centres -- prepares the names of the cyclones.
• Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is among six RSMCs in the world, is mandated to issue advisories and name tropical cyclones in the north Indian Ocean region.

Which countries name the cyclones?

• The panel comprising 13 countries, including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Maldives, Oman, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, name cyclones in the region.
• In 2020, a new list of names was released that had 169 names of cyclones, having 13 suggested names each from 13 countries.

Why are the cyclones named?

• The cyclones are named to identify the storms to send out warning notifications about their development.
• As the technical names could be difficult for the common people to remember and spread awareness on, naming them gives an unique identifier to these cyclones and makes it easier for the media and various authorities to disseminate information on them.

What will be the next cyclone called?

• The list of 13 names prepared by each of the 13 nations are out in public domain.
• The next cyclone in the region will be called 'Yaas', a name given by Oman, while the one after that will be called 'Gulab' as recommended by Pakistan.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-to-announce-system-to-name-virus-variants-like-hurricanes/article34588897.ece