Viruses have traditionally been named after the places or animals where they were first discovered. However, scientists are now trying to organize virus naming more systematically.
Dengue, initially known as ‘break-bone fever,’ was first identified in the 16th century. This disease, characterized by fever and severe pain, has now become a global health concern, with over 9 million cases reported worldwide in recent years. Now, Dengue has spread very quickly in around 90 countries.
Virus names do not happen by accident. Usually, they come from their symptoms or the locations where they were first identified. However, some names have uncertain origins.
There are 14,690 classified virus species, but many more exist; mammals alone may harbor 320,000 viruses. Of these, 270 are known to infect humans; new ones, like Sars-CoV-2 and Zika, are emerging.
Dengue belongs to the hemorrhagic fever viruses that cause high rises in temperature, severe headaches, joint pains, and bleeding. The catalog includes the likes of Ebola, Nipah, and Marburg – notorious for their death rates.
Below is some virus naming.
● Yellow Fever: Named for causing jaundice.
● Epstein-Barr Virus: Named after the scientists who discovered it.
● Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever: Named after two different places, Crimea and Congo, where it was found.
Some virus names can be misleading. For example, ‘Chickenpox’ sounds like it is related to chickens. However, advancements in science have improved virus detection. Electron microscopes and whole-genome sequencing help identify viruses.
The ICTV ensures consistent naming. For example, it named the virus causing AIDS as HIV. With rapid virus discovery, the ICTV’s task is growing. From 800 known species five years ago, the list now approaches 15, 000.
Even though organized names are useful for scientists, people still like to use catchy names such as Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, Mpox, and Ebola.
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