Multiple Choice
COVID-19 is a ___________ virus that causes _____________ infections.
18. Viruses, Viroids, & Prions
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)
2:08 minutesProblem 2
Textbook Question
The 19 in COVID-19 signifies that
a. this is the 19th coronavirus epidemic.
b. this is 19th known coronavirus.
c. there are 19 strains of Betacoronavirus.
d. the virus was identified in 2019.
e. the symptoms last for 19 days.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that the naming of viruses often includes numbers that relate to the year of identification or discovery rather than ordinal counts or symptom durations.
Recall that COVID-19 stands for 'Coronavirus Disease 2019', indicating the year when the disease was first identified.
Eliminate options that suggest ordinal numbers (like 19th coronavirus or 19th epidemic) or symptom duration, as these are not standard naming conventions for viruses.
Recognize that the number 19 in COVID-19 specifically refers to the year 2019, when the virus was first reported.
Conclude that the correct interpretation of '19' in COVID-19 is that the virus was identified in 2019.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
COVID-19 Nomenclature
COVID-19 stands for 'Coronavirus Disease 2019,' where '19' refers to the year the disease was first identified, 2019. This naming convention helps track and date outbreaks rather than indicating strain numbers or epidemic counts.
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Coronavirus Classification
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses classified into genera like Alphacoronavirus and Betacoronavirus. Understanding this classification clarifies that the number '19' is unrelated to the count of strains or types within these groups.
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Epidemiological Terminology
Epidemiological terms often include the year of identification to distinguish outbreaks. This practice aids in historical tracking and avoids confusion with other viruses or epidemics, emphasizing the importance of dates in disease naming.
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07:36Terminology of Microbial Growth Control
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