Just recently, the 2019 novel coronavirus has been given a new name. In a situation report published by the World Health Organization, it was stated that the new name was given after following the organization’s best practices in the naming of new human infectious diseases. The previously known 2019-nCoV has been named COVID-19, short for coronavirus disease 2019.
The World Health Organization also revealed that the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) took part in the name of the new virus.
“Following WHO best practices for naming of new human infectious diseases, which were developed in consultation and collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), WHO has named the disease COVID-19, short for coronavirus disease 2019,” an excerpt in the World Health Organization Situational Report published February 11.