What’s what in a pandemic? Virus, disease, and societal disaster must be differentiated

Abstract

Viruses, the diseases they can trigger, and the possible associated societal disaster represent different entities. To engage with the complexities of viral pandemics, we need to recognize each entity by using a distinctive name. Names matter. In a pandemic, the virus, disease, and societal disaster each represent a different entity that should be recognized with distinctive names. This Perspective calls for a rethink of how we use names in a pandemic, using the COVID-19 pandemic as an example.