The taxonomist's lament, pt 2 - when names are just really bad.

[hlthe2b]

1. Here's one for you that I worked on after the fact: Vector-borne viruses are traditionally named for the locale

in which they were first discovered. So, within the 4-corners region of the US, where the first North American Hantavirus was first discovered--responsible for the 1993 outbreak of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, the nearest landmark for those first cases detected among the Navajo was (unfortunately) Muerto Canyon. So, for a short while, this new virus was named Muerto Canyon Virus (for the non-Spanish speakers, that means "Death" canyon). Well, cultural differences (and a failure to pre-identify any sensitivity) led to a real disaster. As the Navajo were interviewed to try to determine the source of spread, investigators soon found that not only is it very inappropriate to make direct and ongoing eye contact, but to discuss death was also NOT done, but rather viewed as the ultimate offensive discussion. So, they named the new virus "Death Canyon Virus" and expected the Navajo to discuss that... Sometimes one can only shake your head...

So, now the virus has to be renamed something. I can't say with certainty the alternative was not a somewhat petulant choice, but the virus became (and remains) "Sin Nombre Virus"... So, if you haven't caught on yet, the new choice was NO NAME VIRUS translated from the Spanish.