New York calls for renaming monkeypox because of black feelings

The city's health commissioner said the name "monkeypox" could have a stigmatizing effect on blacks as well as members of the LGBT community. Because of this, he stressed,

New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Wasan has asked the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Ghebreyesus to rename monkeypox, as he believes the name is stigmatizing and can offend members of a number of races, including blacks, as well as the LGBT community. Vasan stated this on his Twitter, and also attached a copy of the letter to the head of WHO.

“We are of growing concern about the potentially devastating and stigmatizing effect that discussion of monkeypox virus can have on vulnerable communities,” Vasan wrote. He emphasized that many experts are also concerned about this, given the "painful and racist history in which terminology like this is associated with communities of color."

The commissioner recalled that the virus now spreading did not originate in monkeys and was named so only because it was identified during the study of primates.

WHO decides to rename monkeypox Society

According to Vasan, misperceptions about the term "monkey pox" may prevent people from seeking medical attention. He recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic , the number of hate crimes against Asians and Pacific Islanders has increased significantly, stressing that the language used in healthcare matters.

“We fear the consequences of stigmatization. associated with the term "monkey pox" may be exacerbated by that in many cases, the transmission of the virus occurs between gay men, bisexuals and other men who have sex with men – part of the community that already faces stigma and violence,” Vasan explained.

Monkeypox facts and figures. Infographic Society

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In mid-June, the WHO had already announced that it was working on renaming monkeypox. The representative of the organization noted that it is necessary to assign names to diseases that will not harm any groups.

The last outbreak of monkeypox occurred in early May. The first case was detected in the UK in a person who returned from Nigeria, then the virus spread to other countries.

On July 23, the WHO declared the outbreak a global health emergency.