Hi there! I’m Julián from MinuteEarth. Let’s talk about how diseases get their names and why it’s important to choose them carefully. Back in 2009, a disease spread all over the world and affected millions of people. Before it got its official name, 2009 H1N1 Flu, people called it “swine flu.” This name caused a lot of problems. Countries stopped selling pigs and pig products, which hurt the pork industry. In Egypt, they even decided to get rid of all their pigs to try to stop the virus. The funny thing is, the virus was mostly spreading from person to person, not from pigs to people. But just because of the name, people panicked.
Pigs aren’t the only ones who have been affected by poorly named diseases. In the past, diseases were often named after groups of people or places, which led to fear and stigma against those communities. This doesn’t help anyone and can make things worse. To fix this, the World Health Organization (WHO) came up with guidelines in 2015 for naming new diseases. They suggest avoiding names that mention people, places, animals, foods, or jobs, and they don’t want names that scare people. Instead, names should describe what the disease does, like its symptoms or how serious it is, and they should be easy to say.
This is why the recent pandemic was named Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19 for short. It was named after the coronavirus that appeared in 2019. Even though some people might still have wrong ideas, using a standard name helps stop harmful names from spreading.
During tough times, being kind and generous is really important. One easy way to help is by using Tab for a Cause. This tool donates to charity every time you open a new tab in your browser. I’ve been using it for years and have opened over 37,000 tabs, turning them into real donations for my favorite charities, including ones helping with COVID-19. If you open a lot of tabs, you can make a difference too by visiting tabforacause.org/MinuteEarth2 and downloading the extension.
Another way to help is by staying home, especially during a pandemic. The World Health Organization says that staying home is the best way to avoid spreading the virus to others. If you need to go out, keep a safe distance from other people.
Let’s support each other by sharing fun things to do at home in the comments. Besides watching MinuteEarth, of course! And for a bit of fun, here’s our latest caption contest winner. You can join in and suggest captions for the next image at patreon.com/MinuteEarth.
Imagine you are a scientist who has discovered a new disease. Based on the guidelines from the World Health Organization, come up with a name for your disease. Make sure it doesn’t include names of people, places, animals, foods, or jobs. Share your name with the class and explain why you chose it.
Choose a disease from history that was poorly named and research its impact on communities or industries. Prepare a short presentation for the class explaining how the name affected people and what could have been done differently.
Create a poster that educates people about the importance of naming diseases carefully. Use visuals and text to explain the potential consequences of poorly chosen names and how proper naming can prevent stigma and misinformation.
In groups, role-play a scenario where a new disease has been discovered. Assign roles such as scientists, government officials, and media representatives. Discuss and decide on an appropriate name for the disease, considering the WHO guidelines. Present your decision-making process to the class.
Write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper explaining why careful naming of diseases is important. Use examples from the article and your own research to support your points. Share your letter with the class and discuss the different perspectives.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, this is Julián from MinuteEarth. In 2009, a disease spread globally and affected millions. Before it was officially named 2009 H1N1 Flu, it was commonly referred to as “swine flu.” In response, countries banned the sale of pigs and pig products, significantly impacting the pork industry. Egypt even decided to cull all of its pigs to try to stop the virus. The issue? While the virus likely originated from one that infected pigs, the 2009 strain was primarily transmitted from person to person, not from pigs to people. Nevertheless, the name alone caused widespread panic.
Pigs aren’t the only ones affected by poorly named diseases. Historically, viruses have been named after groups of people or geographical locations, which can lead to stigma and fear directed at those communities. This is not only harmful but does not help in controlling the spread of disease. To mitigate this stigma, in 2015, the World Health Organization established guidelines for naming new infectious diseases. These guidelines suggest avoiding names related to people, places, animals, foods, or occupations, and discourage fear-inducing terms. Instead, names should reflect the disease’s characteristics, such as symptoms or severity, and should be easy to pronounce.
This is how our recent pandemic was named Coronavirus Disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19, after the coronavirus that emerged in 2019. While some individuals may still harbor biases or misconceptions, we aim to reduce stigma by providing standardized names before harmful ones can spread.
In these challenging times, generosity is essential. One simple way to contribute to a good cause is through Tab for a Cause, which donates to charity each time you open a new browser tab. I’ve been using Tab for a Cause for several years and have opened over 37,000 tabs, turning that into real donations for my favorite charities, including their COVID-19 response fund. If you often open many tabs, you can make a positive impact by visiting tabforacause.org/MinuteEarth2 and downloading the extension.
Additionally, there’s another way to help from home: stay there, at least for now. We’re releasing this video during a pandemic, and according to the World Health Organization, the best way to avoid becoming a carrier or infecting vulnerable individuals is to stay home. If you must go out, maintain a safe distance from others.
Let’s support each other in the comments by sharing fun activities to do while staying at home—besides watching MinuteEarth, of course. And for a moment of distraction, here’s our latest caption contest winner. The next image is ready for caption suggestions from all levels of patrons at patreon.com/MinuteEarth.
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This version removes specific references to sensitive topics while maintaining the overall message.
Disease – A condition that affects the normal functioning of the body or mind. – The doctor explained that the disease could be managed with proper medication and a healthy lifestyle.
Naming – The process of giving a name to something, often to identify or classify it. – Scientists are careful in the naming of new species to avoid confusion with existing ones.
Virus – A tiny infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism. – The virus spread quickly through the community, causing many people to become ill.
Symptoms – Signs or indications of a disease or condition that are experienced by an individual. – Common symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, and body aches.
Pandemic – An outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. – The COVID-19 pandemic led to global efforts to develop vaccines and treatments.
Coronavirus – A type of virus that can cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. – The coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 has led to significant changes in how people interact and travel.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury and maintaining physical and mental well-being. – Regular exercise and a balanced diet are important for maintaining good health.
Organization – A group of people with a particular purpose, such as promoting health or conducting scientific research. – The World Health Organization plays a crucial role in coordinating international responses to health emergencies.
Guidelines – Recommendations or instructions provided to help people make decisions or follow procedures. – The health department issued guidelines to help prevent the spread of the flu in schools.
Safety – The condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury. – Wearing a helmet while riding a bike is important for safety.
