World Health Organization to 'Phase Out' the Term 'Monkeypox' in Favor of 'Mpox'

JAKARTADAILY.ID – The World Health Organization (WHO) will begin using a new preferred term “mpox” as a synonym for monkeypox, following a series of consultations with global experts.

In a written statement on the WHO official site, the UN Health Agency was concerned that the original name of the decades-old animal disease could be construed as discriminatory and racist.

“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,” said the statement.

Also Read: Indonesian Ministry of Health Confirms First Monkeypox Case in Indonesia

“In several meetings, public and private, a number of individuals and countries raised concerns and asked WHO to propose a way forward to change the name,” continues the statement.

WHO also will use both names simultaneously for one year while “monkeypox” is phased out.

WHO will adopt the term mpox in its communications, and encourages others to follow these recommendations, to minimize any ongoing negative impact of the current name and from the adoption of the new name.

Also Read: Ministry of Health to Add Monkeypox PCR Laboratory After the Discovery of the First Case in Indonesia

According to timesofisrael.com, in August, WHO began consulting experts about renaming the disease, shortly after the UN agency declared monkeypox’s spread to be a global emergency.

To date, there have been more than 80,000 cases identified in dozens of countries that had not previously reported the smallpox-related disease.

Until May, monkeypox, a disease that is thought to originate in animals, was not known to trigger large outbreaks beyond central and west Africa.

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