Virus taxon names (species, genus, subfamily, family, and order names) have been formally approved using a defined process established by the ICTV and approved by the International Union of Microbiological Societies as specified in the International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature (Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature). These names represent universal identifiers and as such, they should be written in the form in which they were approved, and not translated into other languages or alphabets. A list of all current virus taxon names can be downloaded from the ICTV web site at ICTV Master Species List.
Virus names, such as those assigned to virus strains or isolates, are different from taxon names in that they have not been universally assigned nor approved using any defined process. Therefore these virus names may, in contrast to taxon names, be translated as desired into local languages and alphabets.
