What's in a name: The impact of monkeypox nomenclature

Abstract The monkeypox outbreak has garnered significant global attention and has since been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Even though the virus is not novel and has been endemic in African countries, most cases in the present outbreak have been detected in Eur...

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Main Authors: Lawson Ifeanyi Eya, Muiz Ibrahim, Creuza Rachel Vicente, Adrian Paul J. Rabe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-12-01
Series:Public Health Challenges
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.25
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author Lawson Ifeanyi Eya
Muiz Ibrahim
Creuza Rachel Vicente
Adrian Paul J. Rabe
author_facet Lawson Ifeanyi Eya
Muiz Ibrahim
Creuza Rachel Vicente
Adrian Paul J. Rabe
author_sort Lawson Ifeanyi Eya
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The monkeypox outbreak has garnered significant global attention and has since been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Even though the virus is not novel and has been endemic in African countries, most cases in the present outbreak have been detected in Europe and the Americas. Disease nomenclature has historically included references to places, animals, and people. There could be unintended negative consequences emanating from these references. The COVID‐19 pandemic has exposed some of these consequences, with terms such as “China virus” and fueling racism and hate crimes toward Asians, especially in America. Similarly, following the monkeypox outbreak, there have been reports of attacks on monkeys in Brazil even though monkeys are not linked to this present outbreak. The WHO Best Practices for the Naming of New Human Infectious Diseases has advised the avoidance of these references and terms that can cause negative impacts. The naming of the COVID‐19 virus is an example of the use of the new naming practice. The WHO is already working on new names for the monkeypox disease. This name change will help clear up the confusion and prevent further attacks on monkeys both in Brazil and other parts of the world.
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spelling doaj.art-831980fb69fe4f438c37d78edaa7cb722023-04-03T10:35:29ZengWileyPublic Health Challenges2769-24502022-12-0114n/an/a10.1002/puh2.25What's in a name: The impact of monkeypox nomenclatureLawson Ifeanyi Eya0Muiz Ibrahim1Creuza Rachel Vicente2Adrian Paul J. Rabe3Noonu Atoll Hospital Noonu Atoll MaldivesInternational Higher School of Medicine International University of Kyrgyzstan Bishkek City KyrgyzstanDepartment of Social Medicine Federal University of Espírito Santo Vitória BrazilFaculty of Medicine Department of Primary Care and Public Health School of Public Health Imperial College London London UKAbstract The monkeypox outbreak has garnered significant global attention and has since been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Even though the virus is not novel and has been endemic in African countries, most cases in the present outbreak have been detected in Europe and the Americas. Disease nomenclature has historically included references to places, animals, and people. There could be unintended negative consequences emanating from these references. The COVID‐19 pandemic has exposed some of these consequences, with terms such as “China virus” and fueling racism and hate crimes toward Asians, especially in America. Similarly, following the monkeypox outbreak, there have been reports of attacks on monkeys in Brazil even though monkeys are not linked to this present outbreak. The WHO Best Practices for the Naming of New Human Infectious Diseases has advised the avoidance of these references and terms that can cause negative impacts. The naming of the COVID‐19 virus is an example of the use of the new naming practice. The WHO is already working on new names for the monkeypox disease. This name change will help clear up the confusion and prevent further attacks on monkeys both in Brazil and other parts of the world.https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.25global healthmonkeypoxpandemicviral nomenclature
spellingShingle Lawson Ifeanyi Eya
Muiz Ibrahim
Creuza Rachel Vicente
Adrian Paul J. Rabe
What's in a name: The impact of monkeypox nomenclature
Public Health Challenges
global health
monkeypox
pandemic
viral nomenclature
title What's in a name: The impact of monkeypox nomenclature
title_full What's in a name: The impact of monkeypox nomenclature
title_fullStr What's in a name: The impact of monkeypox nomenclature
title_full_unstemmed What's in a name: The impact of monkeypox nomenclature
title_short What's in a name: The impact of monkeypox nomenclature
title_sort what s in a name the impact of monkeypox nomenclature
topic global health
monkeypox
pandemic
viral nomenclature
url https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.25
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