New Name for Monkeypox

• The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that mpox is currently the preferred name for monkeypox.

• Monkeypox was named in 1970 – more than 10 years after the virus that causes the disease was discovered in captive monkeys.

• However, monkeypox probably did not originate in monkeys and knowledge related to its origins is still unknown.

• The monkeypox virus is currently found several other animals apart from monkeys.

• The name for the disease was given before the WHO published the best practices for naming diseases in 2015.

• Since the recent outbreak, experts have suggested changing the name of the disease to avoid discrimination and stigma, which discouraged people from testing and vaccination.

• The monkeypox had mainly affected gay men. In the United States, black and Hispanic people were disproportionately affected by the viral infection.