Virus vs. Disease

Virus vs. Disease

by Sam Sande -
Number of replies: 1

Is coronavirus the virus that causes COVID-19 or just another name for COVID-19? Does the virus have a different name? I am still confused on this. 


In reply to Sam Sande

Re: Virus vs. Disease

by Barbara Christie-Pope -

You and a lot of people are confused about this and we will discuss it.  The media, and some scientists also, are not doing a very good job of distinguishing the virus from the disease.  Think about HIV and AIDS.  HIV is a virus; AIDS is the disease that results from infection by the virus.  SARS-CoV-2 is the official name of the virus; COVID-19 is the name of the disease.  Sometimes you will hear the "COVID-19 virus" which is better but not quite the same as using the actual name of the virus.