The World Health Organization has decided to give a new name to monkeypox, a dangerous viral disease whose latest outbreak occurred earlier this year.
The WHO is now introducing the term “mpox” (short for “monkeypox”). In explaining its decision, the WHO said the traditional name of the disease was sometimes used in a racist and stigmatizing context.
The organization states that the term “mpox” can be used in both English and other languages. The new name will be officially used in conjunction with the old one for one year, after which it will replace it completely.
The monkeypox virus was first identified in humans in 1970. It got its name because 10 years earlier, scientists had discovered a similar disease in monkeys.
Subsequently, the WHO adopted rules for naming diseases that require the choice of terms to minimize possible negative consequences for trade, tourism, or animal welfare. It is forbidden to use names that may offend certain cultural, social, national or ethnic groups.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO recommended naming virus variants using letters from the Greek alphabet to avoid stigmatizing terms (such as those related to regions or countries where new mutations emerged).
This summer, cases of mpox were reported in 29 countries, including Europe, Canada, Australia, and the United States.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this outbreak is unusual because cases of the disease have been reported in several countries outside of Central and West Africa, where the disease is considered endemic.
However, the number of people infected with chickenpox has been declining for several months in a row. The majority of those infected are men who have had intimate relationships with other men.