Some people are stigmatizing China and using "Chinese virus" in reference to COVID-19 even though such language contravenes guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO) against the use of geographical terms in naming diseases, Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong said on Monday.
WHO guidelines state that scientists, national authorities and media should follow best practice when naming infectious diseases to minimize unnecessary negative effects on nations, economies and people, he said on Twitter.
"Some people have kept stigmatizing China & using 'Chinese virus' in reference to COVID-19. Such language contravenes WHO guidelines against the use of geographical terms in naming diseases. Chinese people are strongly opposed to it."