When a new infectious agent emerges, terminology is often confusing and inconsistent. During the early months of the 2019 outbreak, the causative agent was referred to by various temporary, non-standard names. Terms like the “novel coronavirus,” the placeholder “2019-nCoV,” or the geographically linked “Wuhan virus” were common. This array of unofficial names made global communication difficult and highlighted the need for a standardized system to track the outbreak and its spread.
Differentiating the Virus and the Disease
The official naming process resulted in two distinct designations, reflecting the difference between the pathogen and the illness it causes. The virus itself is officially named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2. This designation was formally announced by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), which classifies viruses based on their genetic structure. The name acknowledges its genetic similarity to the coronavirus responsible for the 2003 SARS outbreak, classifying it as the second in that species group.
The illness resulting from an infection with this virus is called COVID-19, a name assigned by the World Health Organization (WHO). COVID-19 is an acronym standing for “Coronavirus Disease 2019,” with the number indicating the year the outbreak was first identified. Diseases and the viruses that cause them frequently have separate names, mirroring the distinction between the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the condition it causes, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The WHO uses the disease name to enable discussion on prevention, transmissibility, and treatment, listing it in the standardized International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
The Rationale Behind the Standardized Names
The decision to use specific, non-geographic names follows international best practices established to minimize negative consequences. Organizations like the WHO have long-standing guidelines that prohibit using names of geographic locations, people, animal species, or cultural groups in disease nomenclature. This policy is designed to prevent stigma, discrimination, and economic backlash against specific populations or regions.
Earlier diseases named after locations, such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), negatively affected trade and travel in those areas. By naming the virus SARS-CoV-2, the ICTV focused solely on its biological and genetic characteristics, linking it to its taxonomic family. The WHO’s designation of COVID-19 provides a neutral, descriptive acronym that focuses on the type of virus and the year of discovery.
How New Variants Receive Their Designations
As the SARS-CoV-2 virus replicates and evolves, it produces genetic changes that result in new versions called variants. These variants are tracked using two parallel naming systems: one for scientific precision and another for public health communication. Scientists rely on technical nomenclature systems, such as the Pango lineage, which uses complex alphanumeric labels like B.1.1.529 to trace the evolutionary family tree of the virus.
For public discussion and to avoid confusion, the WHO introduced a simpler, non-technical system using letters of the Greek alphabet for variants of concern and interest. These labels, such as Alpha, Delta, and Omicron, replaced the practice of referring to variants by the country where they were first detected. This system prevents the stigmatization of nations and simplifies conversations about strains that may show differences in transmissibility or disease severity. The Greek letters are common names for strains of the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, not a replacement for the official virus or disease names.