The World Health Organization (WHO) will begin using the new term MPOX (a combination of the first letter of the English word monkey – monkey and pox – smallpox) as a designation for monkeypox. The names will be in use for a year, after which “monkey pox” will be phased out, according to a November 28 post on the organization’s website.
The decision was made after a series of consultations with experts. It is clarified that when in 2022 the territory where the outbreak was noted expanded, racist and stigmatizing statements were observed on the Web and in public communities, which were reported to WHO.
“At several meetings, open and closed, a number of individuals and countries expressed concern and asked WHO to suggest a way to change the name,” the organizations added.
Based on numerous consultations and discussions with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhan Ghebreyesus, WHO recommends the adoption of the MPOX in English.
The designation will be included in the ICD-10 (International Qualification of Diseases) online in the coming days.
The term “monkey pox” will remain searchable in the ICD to match historical information.
“WHO will use the term MPOX in its communications and encourages others to follow these guidelines to minimize any ongoing negative impact of the current name and adoption of the new name,” the experts concluded.
On November 22, the Politico newspaper reported on WHO plans to rename monkeypox to MPOX amid growing pressure from US administration officials. The White House declined to comment.
In October, the WHO concluded that the monkeypox outbreak remains a public health emergency of international concern. It has been noted that transmission continues in a number of regions, so the monkeypox outbreak requires coordinated action by countries to reduce its impact.
At the same time, Ghebreyesus said that the number of cases of monkeypox in the world has decreased, but in several countries the outbreak of the disease is still at its peak stage.
Monkeypox is an infectious disease of animals and humans, which is characterized by fever, general intoxication and the appearance of exanthema. The pathogen that causes it is genetically close to the variola virus (human smallpox).
