How To Name A Disease (Like COVID-19)

TL;DR

Naming diseases after certain groups or places can lead to stigma and prejudice, which is why the World Health Organization developed guidelines for naming new infectious diseases.

Transcript

Hi, this is Julián from MinuteEarth. In 2009, a disease swept across the globe and infected millions, and before it was officially named 2009 H1N1 Flu, it was popularly dubbed “swine flu.” Panicking countries banned sales of pigs and pig products, turning the pork industry on its snout and Egypt even went so far as to slaughter all 300,000 of the c... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Poorly named diseases can lead to panic, stigma, and prejudice towards certain groups or places.
• 🛄 The World Health Organization's naming guidelines aim to prevent the spread of stigma and promote accurate understanding of diseases.
• 😨 Disease names should focus on descriptive qualities and the responsible pathogen, avoiding fear-mongering terms.
• 👪 Staying home and practicing social distancing are crucial in preventing the spread of diseases like COVID-19.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why was the 2009 H1N1 flu popularly called "swine flu"?

The 2009 H1N1 flu was initially called "swine flu" because it likely evolved from a virus that infected pigs. However, the virus mainly spread person-to-person, not from pigs to humans.

Q: Why is naming diseases after people or places dangerous?

Naming diseases after people or places can lead to fear, stigma, and prejudice against those groups. This can harm the individuals and hinder disease control efforts.

Q: What naming guidelines did the World Health Organization create?

The World Health Organization's guidelines recommend avoiding names related to people, places, animals, foods, or occupations. Instead, descriptive qualities of the disease should be used, along with the actual bug responsible.

Q: What is the significance of the name "COVID-19"?

The name "COVID-19" was given to the disease caused by the coronavirus that emerged in 2019. It follows the guidelines by using a descriptive quality ("coronavirus") and the year of emergence.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• In 2009, the H1N1 flu was popularly called "swine flu," leading to panic and bans on pig products, despite the virus being primarily transmitted person-to-person.

• Historically, diseases have been named after groups of people or places, directing fear and stigma towards those groups.

• To combat this, the World Health Organization created guidelines for naming new infectious diseases, avoiding names related to people, places, animals, foods, or occupations.