By ELIZABETH MERABMore by this AuthorThe new coronavirus that has claimed hundreds of lives in China will be now known as COVID-19, the World Health Organisation announced Tuesday. “Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing,” Tedros said. For example, the “swine flu” and “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome” had unintended negative impacts by stigmatising certain communities or economic sectors, they said. Other examples include Spanish Flu, Lyme disease, Japanese encephalitis, swine flu, bird flu, and monkey pox. An Israeli health minister objected to "swine flu" on religious grounds and "Mexican flu" caused offense to a nation.

Source: Daily Nation February 11, 2020 16:41 UTC