WHO plans to rename monkeypox as ‘MPOX’ 

The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to rename monkeypox as “MPOX” in order to avoid the stigma related to the name of the virus that spread throughout the world earlier this year, three sources told POLITICO on Tuesday. 

The decision comes after the WHO agreed to consider other suggestions for the virus’ name over the summer. The new name is expected to be announced as early as Wednesday.

“In the context of the current global outbreak, continued reference to, and nomenclature of this virus being African is not only inaccurate but is also discriminatory and stigmatizing,” a group of scientists wrote in a joint statement in June.

Monkeypox received its name when it was discovered in 1958. However, current-day public health experts and LGBT activists claimed that the name “monkeypox” played into racist stereotypes 

Senior Biden officials privately urged the WHO to change the name of the virus because it was deepening stigma among people of color. The administration added that the slow movement on behalf of the international entity was hampering the vaccination campaign that started in the U.S. over the summer. 

The virus began spreading within the U.S. in May. Since then, the country has recorded 30,000 infections during the outbreak, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Since then, cases have dropped from more than 400 a day during the summer to less than 20 over the past week.