This Asian CBS reporter says White House official called coronavirus ‘kung-flu’ in front of her

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CBS News‘ White House correspondent Weijia Jiang says an unnamed White House official “…referred to #Coronavirus as the ‘Kung-Flu’ to my face,” Jiang tweeted. She added: “Makes me wonder what they’re calling it behind my back.”

What’s the difference between coronavirus and COVID-19 and other medical terms being thrown around?

Jiang is Asian American who was born in China and raised in West Virginia, according to her CBS bio.

This morning a White House official referred to #Coronavirus as the “Kung-Flu” to my face. Makes me wonder what they’re calling it behind my back.

— Weijia Jiang (@weijia) March 17, 2020

Donald Trump, meanwhile, has referred to coronavirus as “Chinese virus” multiple times, despite WHO recommendations against labeling any microbes after with geographic names.

“Kung fu” is a blanket term for any number of Chinese martial arts — and the “pun” “Kung-Flu” is a derogatory and scientifically inaccurate way to refer to an illness.

Not only does it misappropriate a part of Asian culture that’s been shaped (sometimes incorrectly) by American media, but it’s also inaccurate to call it a “flu” — since the virus is not related to the influenza virus and this could continue to perpetrate the notion that coronavirus is “the same” as influence (it’s not).