Yes, the novel virus which has been challenging the global health scenario with souring death toll which reached 490, didn’t have a name yet. The name ‘Coronavirus’ which went viral was the name of a kind of virus which means ‘crown’ in Latin referring to the crown-like spikes on its surface. However, sources from Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security revealed that the scientists are now juggling with various names and have confirmed that they would announce an official name for the virus which has been taking a toll at China.
Coronavirus is actually the umbrella term for a large group of viruses, including ones that can cause the common cold. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the temporary name 2019-nCoV, which includes the year it was discovered, “n” to denote new or novel, and “CoV” for coronavirus. With various other names sprouting out on social media with each passing day, WHO has called on naming the virus as an urgent task to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). According to the sources, the name would be short and descriptive like Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
While the senior scientists across the world are still learning about the new virus, it has reportedly become tough for them to come with one particular name. Meanwhile, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, who studies the history of disease names stated that they have received a set of instructions from the World Health Organisation over the name as it has been the most sensitive issue in the world right now. WHO has already issued orders to restrain media from using geographical locations attached to the virus to address it.