What's in a name? WHO revising naming system for COVID variants to avoid stigmatizing nations where they were first spotted
CBSN
COVID-19 variants are to be known by letters of the Greek alphabet to avoid stigmatizing nations where they were first detected, the World Health Organization announced Monday.
The new system applies to "variants of concern" -- the most troubling -- and the second-level "variants of interest." There are currently four variants of concern being tracked. "They will not replace existing scientific names, but are aimed to help in public discussion," said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's COVID-19 technical lead.
Measles is still making headlines in 2025, prompting questions about the life-threatening disease and how to prevent it.
It is common among older adults to not consistently get a full night's rest. But there are ways to improve sleep issues.
Microsoft is pulling the plug on Skype, the pioneering Internet telecommunications and video call platform it bought nearly 14 years ago for $8.5 billion.
Measles cases popping up across the United States, including an outbreak in Texas that has led to the death of a child, are prompting questions about where exactly the illness has been detected.