Proposal to Rename Monkeypox Due to Offensive Connotation in U.S.
New York City's Commissioner of Health, Ashwin Vaswani, has called for the World Health Organization (WHO) to reconsider the name of the monkeypox virus, citing concerns about the term's stigmatizing connotations.
The current name of monkeypox, derived from its initial discovery during research on primates, has been a source of concern for Commissioner Vaswani, who believes it could fuel racist and stigmatizing sentiments, particularly towards Black individuals and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
In a letter to the head of the WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus, Commissioner Vaswani emphasized the importance of careful term choice in public health matters, stating that the stigmatizing effects of the term 'monkeypox' could be exacerbated by pre-existing stigma.
The concern about stigmatization is not new to diseases with animal-related names. The COVID-19 pandemic saw an increase in hate crimes against Asians and Pacific Islanders, highlighting the potential impact of disease names on marginalized communities.
In recent outbreaks, the monkeypox virus has been primarily transmitted between gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Commissioner Vaswani fears that such sentiments could deter these groups from seeking medical help, further exacerbating the disease's spread.
In response to these concerns, the WHO officially changed the name from "monkeypox" to "mpox" on November 28, 2022. This change was intended to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with the disease name. The WHO allowed a one-year transition period during which both names were used to facilitate adjustment to this new terminology.
Health experts widely support this change, as the original name contributed to misinformation and xenophobic or stigmatizing attitudes. Studies analyzing search trends suggest that the adoption of "mpox" is greater in locations with more LGBTQ+ acceptance and lower where misinformation about infectious diseases is more prevalent, highlighting the social context of the name change and its impact on reducing stigma.
Public health communications encourage usage of "mpox" to emphasize that the disease is a public health issue transcending identities and borders, deserving a response grounded in science and dignity rather than stigma.
In summary, there has been a recognized need and practical steps taken by health authorities and experts to rename monkeypox to mpox to avoid stigmatization and improve public health communication effectiveness.
In light of the stigmatizing connotations associated with the monkeypox virus, Commissioner Vaswani advocates for the World Health Organization (WHO) to reconsider its name, citing mental-health concerns. In support of this, health experts emphasize that a name change to mpox would align with science-based public health communications, helping to reduce stigma and improve health-and-wellness outcomes.
