Monkeypox was renamed by the WHO due to its racist and derogatory terminology.
Monkeypox was renamed by the WHO due to its racist and derogatory terminology. Following the most recent outbreak, “racism and stigmatizing language” emerged, prompting global health experts to rename monkeypox.
The disease will be referred to as “mpox,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which is its preferred term. During the transition away from the term “monkeypox,” both names will be used concurrently.
The global health organization said in a statement: “When the monkeypox outbreak spread earlier this year, racist and stigmatizing language was observed and reported to WHO in online settings, other contexts, and in some communities.
Following several meetings with international experts, WHO will start using the new preferred term “mpox” to replace “monkeypox.” For a year, both names will be used concurrently as “monkeypox” is phased out.
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WHO is in charge of naming new diseases, and will only “extremely rarely” rename pre-existing conditions.
The term “human monkeypox” was first used in 1970. In 1958, scientists found the disease-causing virus in captive monkeys. The disease was first “community transmitted” in the UK this year.
Since the beginning of May, the UK has recorded about 3,720 cases.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, the number of reported cases is steadily declining. Approximately 68,000 people have received the smallpox vaccine since the outbreak started in May, according to NHS England.
A campaign offering a second vaccination to qualified individuals who have already received their first shot is now being launched.
The appearance of a fresh rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes are typical indicators of infection.
