The World Health Organization has announced that monkeypox will from now be known as “mbox”, after complaints about the racist language used to name the virus, and the associated stigma.
The old term will be used in conjunction with the new term for a year, before being phased out.
The decision to name the disease Mbox was taken after lengthy discussions between experts, countries and the general public.
The World Health Organization said the new name could easily be used in English as well as other languages.
Monkeypox was first known to mankind in 1970 and is named after the disease caused by the virus, which was detected in monkeys living in captivity more than a decade ago.
Since then, the World Health Organization has been providing advice on naming diseases.
In this context, the organization stresses the need to minimize unnecessary negative impact on trade, travel, tourism or animal welfare, and to avoid causing offense to any cultural, social, national or ethnic group.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, WHO recommended that mutants be referred to using the letters of the Greek alphabet because they were “harmless” and easy to pronounce.
During this year, Mbox virus – which is from the same family as smallpox viruses – has spread in an unusual way in many countries outside Central and West Africa, where it is often found.
Cases of the disease have been reported in 29 countries in Europe, as well as Canada, Australia and the United States, which has led to increased demand for a vaccine to protect those most at risk.
In July, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency due to the global rise in the number of people showing symptoms, including high fever and skin lesions or rashes.
But cases of the disease have been declining for several months now all over the world.
Britain has reported more than 3,500 cases since May, but the introduction of vaccines has helped bring down cases after peaking in July.
Most of the infected were men who have sex with men.