WHO names the new Corona Virus: “COVID-19”

On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced a new name for the Corona Virus, “COVID-19”. Today more than 42,000 are infected with the virus according to the organization.

Highlights

WHO has chosen the name with no reference to geographical location. According to WHO, the name was chosen in such away that it does not affect normal lives of a country.

MERS

MERS is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. It is a deadly Corona Virus strain that was first reported in Saudi Arabia and created havoc in China greatly. However, the name of the virus has created a fact that there is something about the middle east region that causes MERS viral infection.

H1NI

In 2009, swine flu created pandemic. It has now been renamed to H1N1 as its strain was similar to that of the influenza virus. The influenza virus is known to circulate among pigs. Though there was no evidence that H1N1 circulates in a similar way, it affected the sales of pork greatly that year. Therefore, it is important for WHO to choose the name of the viruses very carefully.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2020