Stigma fears see monkeypox renamed

The World Health Organization announced on Monday that it will begin using "mpox" as a synonym for monkeypox out of concern that the current name has given rise to racism and discrimination.

Both names will be used simultaneously for one year, while monkeypox is phased out. WHO said the decision was made following a series of consultations with global experts.

Ifeanyi Nsofor, a global health equity advocate and senior New Voices fellow at the Aspen Institute, told National Public Radio that "mpox is better than monkeypox because it still contains 'pox', which speaks to the physical nature of the disease".