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JAM | Nov 28, 2022

WHO renames monkeypox virus due to racism concerns

Vanassa McKenzie

Vanassa McKenzie / Our Today

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Photo: healtheuropa.com

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced in a news release today (November 28), that it is recommending a new name for the monkeypox virus, which would now be termed ‘mpox’.

According to the WHO, when the outbreak of monkeypox expanded earlier this year, racist and stigmatising language, in other settings and in some communities, was observed and reported to WHO.

This change comes after a series of consultations between the WHO and global experts who mandated the organisation to provide a way forward to tackle the issue.

Photo: newswirengr.com

WHO says both names will be used simultaneously for one year until ‘monkeypox’ is phased out.

The term ‘mpox’ will now be included in WHO’s publications, however ‘monkeypox’ will remain a searchable term in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) to match historical data.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease which mainly occurs in tropical rainforest areas and West Africa. The virus can be transmitted to humans through close contact with infected person or animals or materials contaminated with the virus.

Jamaica currently has recorded a total of 18 monkeypox cases.

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