There is an urgent need for a non-discriminatory and non-stigmatising name, scientists agree.
The World Health Organization says it is working with experts to come up with a new name for monkeypox.about the "urgent need for a non-discriminatory and non-stigmatising" name for the virus and the disease it causes.Some 1,600 cases of the disease have been recorded globally in recent weeks.
At the latest count, as of 12 June, there were 452 confirmed cases in England, 12 in Scotland, 2 in Northern Ireland and 4 in Wales. The only other diseases this has happened for in the past are Swine flu, polio, Ebola, Zika and Covid. "For that reason I have decided to convene the Emergency Committee under the international health regulations next week, to assess whether this outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern."Monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the same family of viruses as smallpox, although it is much less severe.