In a move to reduce stigma and align with modern disease naming conventions, the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially renamed “monkeypox” to “mpox”. The change, announced in late 2022 and now being widely implemented, reflects growing concerns that the original name could be misleading and discriminatory.
The virus itself remains identical — same symptoms, same transmission methods, same vaccines. What’s changing is purely the terminology used by health organizations, media, and the public.
Why the Change?
- Avoiding animal association: Despite the name, monkeys are not the primary reservoir for the virus. The original name emerged from early cases detected in research monkeys, but rodents are now believed to be the main animal hosts.
- Preventing stigma: Health officials worried the “monkeypox” label could lead to discrimination against certain regions or communities, particularly during the 2022 global outbreak.
- Following WHO best practices: In 2015, WHO issued guidelines advising against naming diseases after geographic locations, animals, occupations, or groups of people to minimize unnecessary stigma.
What This Means Practically
- Medical documents: New research papers, case reports, and public health bulletins now use “mpox”
- Vaccine and treatment info: Resources from CDC, WHO, and health agencies use the updated terminology
- Public communications: Health departments are updating websites, brochures, and outreach materials
- Searchability: Both terms may still appear in searches during the transition period
The symptoms remain unchanged: fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, and the characteristic rash that progresses through different stages before healing. Transmission occurs through close personal contact, contaminated materials, or (less commonly) respiratory droplets.
Vaccines like JYNNEOS and antivirals such as tecovirimat (TPOXX) remain effective against the virus regardless of what we call it. The name change doesn’t affect diagnostics, treatment protocols, or prevention strategies.
If you encounter the term “monkeypox” in older materials, it refers to the same virus now called “mpox”. Going forward, “mpox” is the preferred term in official health communications.
Source: Reuters
