China, February 12, 2020 / Big PRwire/ — World Health Organisation (WHO) has named the disease caused by the novel coronavirus as: COVID-19.

What does COVID-19 mean?

COVID-19 is an acronym. In COVID-19; CO stands for corona, VI stands for virus, D for disease, and 19 refers to 2019.

The naming of a new disease is a tricky balancing act. The WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained at a news conference on Tuesday, “We had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease. Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing.”

Till 12 Feb, the disease caused by novel coronavirus has killed more than 1,100 people and infected over 45,000 people worldwide.