COVID-19 is the official designation for the infectious disease that spread globally, caused by a newly identified virus. This designation was formally adopted following international guidelines to ensure a clear and standardized way to discuss the condition. The name itself is an acronym that provides specific details about the nature of the illness and when it first came to global attention.
The Significance of the Number 19
The number “19” in COVID-19 refers to the year 2019, specifically the year the outbreak was first identified and reported to the world. The earliest known cases of the illness appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. This naming convention is an effective way for international health organizations to track novel pathogens based on their emergence timeline.
This date marker is an indicator of identification, not necessarily the exact moment the virus began to circulate in the human population. Including the year helps distinguish this particular disease from other illnesses caused by coronaviruses that may appear in the future. The World Health Organization (WHO) chose this method for clarity and to establish a standard format for future novel diseases.
Breaking Down the Full Name
The full name, COVID-19, is an abbreviation for “Coronavirus Disease 2019.” The first two letters, “CO,” stand for “Corona,” which refers to the family of viruses responsible for the illness. Coronaviruses are named for the crown-like or “corona” appearance of their surface spikes when viewed under an electron microscope.
The next two letters, “VI” and “D,” stand for “Virus” and “Disease,” completing the acronym’s description of what the illness is. The entire name was announced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2020, following a set of international guidelines for naming new diseases. These guidelines advise against using names that refer to specific geographical locations, people, or animal species to prevent social stigma.
It is important to differentiate between the disease and the organism that causes it. COVID-19 is the name of the disease itself, while the virus responsible is officially named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) assigned the virus name based on its genetic relationship to the virus that caused the 2003 SARS outbreak. Public health communications often use the disease name, COVID-19, as the primary reference point.