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Monkeypox follows coronavirus: But the name is facing criticism WHO responds.
The Corona pandemic is not yet over. The following viral threat is already entering the world stage: monkeypox. For some weeks now, the name of this disease has been on everyone’s lips. But that could soon be a thing of the past: The World Health Organization (WHO) is responding to criticism and wants to rename the virus.
“Discriminatory and stigmatizing.”
According to its information, the WHO is looking for a new name for monkeypox. Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Switzerland, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, according to ntv, that proposals for a new name should be developed as soon as possible.
Earlier, 30 scientists had called for a “non-discriminatory” and “non-stigmatizing” name for the monkeypox virus in an appeal published in the professional forum Virological. They write:
We encourage the professional community to choose fundamentally neutral names.
The point, they say, is to exclude “unnecessary negative impact on nations, geographic regions, economies, and people.” The reference to an “African” origin of the virus is “not only inaccurate but also discriminatory and stigmatizing.”
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a variant of smallpox, which was eradicated several decades ago. They are considered less dangerous. Typical symptoms include fever and skin rashes.
Given the current spate of infections, WHO calls for sexual partner containment and recommends barrier measures comparable to those against covid-19.
- source: gentside.de/picture: pixabay.com
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