Globally dreaded virus, Coronavirus has gotten a new name. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially named the virus COVID-19.
Recall that COVID-19 broke out from Wuhan in China.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the global body, announced the new name at a conference in Geneva on Tuesday, February 11.
At the conference, he said that: “C-o stands for corona, v-i stands for virus, d for disease – so, COVID.
“Under agreed guidelines between WHO, the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations we had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease.
“Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatising.
“It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks.”
According to the organization, the word refers to a group of viruses that contains those that cause SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome).
At least 43,000 people have been infected around the world with a total number 1,018 already dead since the outbreak.
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