Covid-19: The new coronavirus disease now officially has a name

By Michael Le Page

Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Photos

There is now web an reliable name for the disease triggered by the brand new coronavirus, which has killed extra than 1000 folks to this level: Covid-19. The World Health Organization made the announcement in a tweet on 11 February.

The name is a shortened version of coronavirus disease 2019.

“We needed to search out a name that did no longer consult with a geographical predicament, an animal, an individual or crew of parents, and which also will most definitely be pronounceable and linked to the disease,” the WHO says. The resolution became in step with pointers agreed between WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Countries.

“Having a name issues to cease the spend of other names that also will most definitely be unsuitable or stigmatizing. It also offers us a earlier skool layout to spend for any future coronavirus outbreaks,” the WHO persisted.

The virus itself frequently called 2019-nCoV, despite the indisputable reality that it’s in general frequently called the novel coronavirus by the WHO. It has also been called the brand new coronavirus or 2019 coronavirus, and within the media it’s extra and additional staunch called the coronavirus.

It’s miles never yet sure whether someone with handiest light symptoms will most definitely be said to web COVID-19, or whether it refers to handiest to the extra serious circumstances. Alternatively, the WHO’s technical steering defines a “particular person with laboratory affirmation of 2019-nCoV infection, no matter scientific signs and symptoms”.

The disease triggered by the 2003 coronavirus became named SARS, for severe acute respiratory syndrome. The opposite coronavirus that infrequently infects folks causes an illness called MERS, for Heart East respiratory syndrome.

The new name might well now no longer be welcomed by audio cable manufacturer Covid, based in Tempe, Arizona. New scientist asked the corporate for boom, but became told the president is away and also can now no longer respond.