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 virus outbreaks
Viruses, and the diseases they cause, often have different names. For example, HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. People often know the name of a disease, but not the name of the virus that causes it.
Names of viruses (the physical things you work within the lab or that make you sick) are written differently than the names of species and other taxa (logical constructs that help us categorize viruses).
Viruses are named based on their genetic structure to facilitate the development of diagnostic tests, vaccines and medicines. Virologists and the wider scientific community do this work, so viruses are named by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).
Diseases are named to enable discussion on disease prevention, spread, transmissibility, severity and treatment.
A virus name should never be italicized, even when it includes the name of a host species or genus, and should be written in lower case. This ensures that it is distinguishable from a species name, which otherwise might be identical.
The first letters of words in a virus name, including the first word, should only begin with capital when these words are proper nouns (including host genus names but not virus genus names) or start a sentence.
Therefore we name viruses to facilitate communication, identification, and understanding within the scientific and medical communities. Naming viruses is essential for tracking their spread, diagnosing infections, researching treatments, and managing public health.
1. Clear Communication
Naming viruses allows scientists, clinicians, and public health officials to clearly and consistently refer to specific viruses. This avoids confusion and ensures that everyone is talking about the same virus in research, healthcare, and global discussions.
2. Identification and Diagnosis
A specific name helps healthcare providers and laboratories identify the virus causing a particular disease. This is crucial for diagnosis, guiding treatment, and understanding the severity and spread of the virus.
3. Tracking Viral Spread and Outbreaks
Naming viruses helps in tracking outbreaks and monitoring the spread of infections globally. For example, during pandemics, specific names (like SARS-CoV-2 for the virus causing COVID-19) allow public health authorities to track how the virus is evolving and spreading.
4. Vaccine and Drug Development
A standardized name allows researchers to focus on specific viruses for developing antiviral drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tests. It also helps in understanding how different viruses might be related or require similar treatments.
5. Virus Evolution and Strain Differentiation
Naming allows scientists to categorize and differentiate between viral strains and variants. For instance, variants of the same virus, like the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2, have distinct properties and impacts, requiring precise naming for tracking and management.
6. Public Health Communication
A clear and standardized name allows governments, health organizations, and the media to inform the public accurately. This helps in understanding risks, implementing preventive measures, and avoiding misinformation.
7. Standardization and Avoiding Confusion
Using a scientific naming system ensures that viruses are named consistently across different languages, cultures, and countries. It helps avoid colloquial or misleading names, such as when viruses are named after regions or populations, which can lead to stigmatization (e.g., the early use of “Wuhan virus” was replaced by SARS-CoV-2 to avoid geographic associations).
8. Organizing Knowledge
Naming viruses allows researchers to systematically organize information about viral taxonomy, evolution, structure, and function. This makes it easier to study, compare, and analyze different viruses.