WHO to rename ‘Monkeypox’ to ‘MPOX’ at Biden admin’s request

The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to change the name of the monkeypox virus to “MPOX.” 

The change in nomenclature is an attempt to destigmatize the virus at the behest of President Biden’s administration, according to a report from Politico that cited three anonymous sources with knowledge of the matter. 

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The World Health Organization maintains monkeypox’s status a global health emergency.
(Reuters/Denis Balibouse/File Photo)

Sources said that senior Biden officials have consistently urged the WHO to make the name change and have threatened to adopt new terminology without WHO’s approval.

According to the report, Biden administration believes that the name “monkeypox” carries an unnecessary stigma for people of color.

MONKEYPOX BY THE NUMBERS: FACTS ABOUT THE RARE VIRUS THAT’S CURRENTLY SPREADING

Health officials have discovered that administering the monkeypox vaccine through intradermal injection, or injecting a small dose in between layers of skin, is just as effective and allows a single dose to be used to vaccinate five people instead of one.
(Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

The monkeypox outbreak continues to represent a global health emergency, which is the WHO’s highest level of alert, the U.N. agency’s Emergency Committee said at the beginning of November.

The WHO label, a “public health emergency of international concern”, is designed to trigger a coordinated international response and could unlock funding to collaborate on sharing vaccines and treatments.

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Nathan Brookes gets his second shot of monkeypox vaccine at the Balboa Sports Complex vaccine site in Los Angeles on Sept. 8, 2022.
(Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

The U.S. has seen approximately 29,200 cases of monkeypox total within its borders.

The CDC states, “At this time, data suggest that gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men make up the majority of cases in the current monkeypox outbreak. However, anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, who has been in close, personal contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk. Take steps to prevent getting monkeypox. If you have any symptoms of monkeypox, talk to a healthcare provider.”

Reuters contributed to this report.