World Health Organization has decided to change the name of Monkeypox disease to just mpox to avoid stigmatization
The term monkeypox was first used in Denmark in 1958 because of the presence of the monkeypox virus in monkeys.
However, now the disease is not only found in monkeys but is readily found in rodents.
Humans are also affected by monkeypox now.
The World Health Organization has decided to change its name from monkeypox to just mpox to avoid stigmatization that it only spreads because men have sex with men.
The United Nations health agency spoke on the matter and said, “when the outbreak of monkeypox expanded earlier this year, racist and stigmatizing language online, in other settings, and in some communities was observed and reported to WHO.”
They further added, “following a series of consultations with global experts, WHO will begin using a new preferred term ‘mpox’ as a synonym for monkeypox. Both names will be used simultaneously for one year while ‘monkeypox’ is phased out.”
Monkeypox virus started appearing in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African nations.
However, another monkeypox outbreak happened earlier in May and since then has been spreading at a rapid pace.
The symptoms include body aches, fever, and skin lesions.