Rename monkeypox virus
The World Health Organization (WHO) is reaching to rename
monkeypox. The agency has also designated a new name for the virus. The new
name may be MPOX. Politico reported this information, citing three people
involved in the name change. A declaration in such manner might come soon.
According to Politico, the decision to change the name was
made by the World Health Organization mainly due to increasing pressure from
senior officials of the administration of US President Joe Biden. The US
administration has told the World Health Organization that if action is not
taken quickly on the name change, the US will make a unilateral decision on the
matter. The U.S. fears that such a name could create misconceptions among black
people, disrupting vaccination programs.
The World Health Organization acts as the global
coordinator for public health. The organization makes recommendations on the
declaration of international health emergencies, the naming of diseases, which
are then adopted by countries.
