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WHO Issues "Best Practices" For Naming Diseases

Messages
15,786
You know what bothers me about this?

The original name for HIV/AIDS fits the guidelines.

CFS fits the guidelines.

There is concern about stigmatizing places, trades, occupations, and concern about scaring patients, but no concern about stigmatizing patients.
I don't think CFS fits the guideline. It misrepresents the severity of the disease, and focuses on a pretty irrelevant symptom as well.
 

Gemini

Senior Member
Messages
1,176
Location
East Coast USA
Update:
Science Magazine, 15 May 2015--Infectious Diseases: "Rules of the Name-- To Avoid Offense, WHO Says No to People, Places, Food, or Animals in New Disease Names"

Ian Lipkin weighs in: ":The guide is well-intentioned, but goes too far...'I don't see how it will be helpful to eliminate names like monkeypox that provide insights into natural hosts and potential sources of infection.'"