What's in a name: The impact of monkeypox nomenclature

Abstract

Abstract The monkeypox outbreak has garnered significant global attention and has since been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Even though the virus is not novel and has been endemic in African countries, most cases in the present outbreak have been detected in Europe and the Americas. Disease nomenclature has historically included references to places, animals, and people. There could be unintended negative consequences emanating from these references. The COVID‐19 pandemic has exposed some of these consequences, with terms such as “China virus” and fueling racism and hate crimes toward Asians, especially in America. Similarly, following the monkeypox outbreak, there have been reports of attacks on monkeys in Brazil even though monkeys are not linked to this present outbreak. The WHO Best Practices for the Naming of New Human Infectious Diseases has advised the avoidance of these references and terms that can cause negative impacts. The naming of the COVID‐19 virus is an example of the use of the new naming practice. The WHO is already working on new names for the monkeypox disease. This name change will help clear up the confusion and prevent further attacks on monkeys both in Brazil and other parts of the world.

Keywords

• global health
• monkeypox
• pandemic
• viral nomenclature