Traditionally, Jewish people have refrained from mentioning those things that were big killers, or bad things in general. They’ve referred to ‘the Gezeira’, ‘the Milchama’ and the like.
This has its origin in the Gemara. We find a common reference to a disease of דבר אחר, ‘something else’, which is akin to ‘Yenne Machlah’.
Seemingly, the idea is so as not to give it even a toe-hold in our life.