A novel pathogen emerged in late 2019, leading to a global health crisis and demonstrating the need for a standardized name. Before the official designation, the illness was often called “novel coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV.” The World Health Organization (WHO) established guidelines for naming new diseases to prevent confusion and reduce the risk of stigmatizing people or places. Clarifying the origin of the name COVID-19 helps to correctly identify the disease and the virus that causes it.
Decoding the Acronym
The name COVID-19 is an acronym officially designated by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020. The letters refer directly to the pathogen responsible for the illness: “CO” stands for “corona,” and “VI” stands for “virus.” The final letter, “D,” represents “disease,” making the full acronym “Coronavirus Disease.” This convention was chosen to be neutral and easy to pronounce across different languages. By avoiding geographical locations or specific groups, the WHO aimed to foster a less stigmatizing global response.
The Significance of the Number 19
The number “19” appended to the acronym refers to the year the outbreak was first identified and reported. The initial cluster of cases emerged in Wuhan, China, toward the end of 2019. Therefore, the “19” signifies 2019. The number does not indicate the severity of the disease or suggest that it is the nineteenth strain of a pathogen. The system is simply a chronological marker, linking the disease to the time of its initial detection.
The Distinction Between Virus and Disease
A distinction exists between the name of the illness and the name of the biological agent that causes it. COVID-19 is the name of the disease, referring to the clinical condition and symptoms experienced by an infected person. The pathogen that causes the disease is a virus with its own scientific nomenclature. The official name for the virus is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, abbreviated as SARS-CoV-2.
This name was assigned by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) because the virus is genetically related to the one that caused the SARS outbreak in 2003. Using separate names for the virus (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease (COVID-19) aligns with established medical practices. For example, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), illustrating this separation. This dual naming system provides accuracy for both public health communication and scientific research.