Wuhan virus

See also: Wuhanvirus

English

Etymology

From Wuhan +‎ virus, q.v., from its presumed origin in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. The same name was separately and less prominently used in 1995 for a strain of H3N2 flu.

Noun

Wuhan virus (uncountable)

  1. (colloquial, derogatory, sometimes offensive) Synonym of coronavirus, the disease COVID-19.
    • 2020 January 11, Judy Stone, “Wuhan Coronavirus Outbreak Shows The Importance Of Sound Science, Sleuthing, And Cooperation”, in Forbes:
      This new “Wuhan virus” outbreak in China, which appears to be due to a novel coronavirus, is another warning to us about the need for more research in infectious diseases, epidemiology and control measures.
    • 2020 January 25, “No new cases of Wuhan virus, 64 suspected cases so far: MOH”, in Channel News Asia‎:
      One of the 46, the man's 37-year-old son, is another confirmed case of the Wuhan virus.
    • 2020 May 13, New York Post‎:
      The Wuhan virus isn’t the only pandemic to come from China.
    • [2021 May 21, “Chinese American group sues Trump for calling COVID ‘China virus’”, in Al Jazeera:
      Former United States President Donald Trump is being sued by a Chinese American civil rights group over his use of the terms “Chinese virus”, “Wuhan virus” and “Kung Flu virus” during the coronavirus pandemic.]
  2. (colloquial, derogatory, sometimes offensive) Synonym of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
  3. (uncommon) Synonym of A/Wuhan/359/95, a strain of H3N2 influenza.

Usage notes

Particularly in the United States during COVID-19, where the Wuhan virus and similar terms were popularized by President Trump to highlight the origins of the virus.[1]

References
  1. “Trump defends calling coronavirus the ‘Chinese virus’”, in Al Jazeera‎, March 23, 2020, archived from the original on 2020-10-14
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