[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The World Health Organization (WHO) is reportedly officially considering changing the name of 'Monkeypox,' which has recently been spreading worldwide. This is interpreted as a response to concerns that the disease's name could cause discrimination and stigmatization against certain races and ethnicities.
According to Bloomberg News on the 13th (local time), WHO has begun reviewing the name change of Monkeypox amid controversy over its racial discriminatory implications. The controversy was sparked after more than 30 scientists worldwide jointly sent a letter to WHO on the 10th demanding a name change. The scientists pointed out, "Being infected with Monkeypox can lead to discrimination and stigmatization," and emphasized that "the disease's name should minimize negative effects and avoid offending specific cultures, societies, or ethnic groups."
Monkeypox is an infectious disease endemic to the central and western regions of Africa and is currently spreading rapidly with about 1,300 infected cases reported in approximately 30 countries worldwide. It is known that the name Monkeypox was given because the disease originally spread through contact with animals or travel to outbreak areas rather than human-to-human transmission.
According to Bloomberg News, WHO is reportedly working with experts studying orthopoxviruses, the virus family to which Monkeypox belongs, to consider an appropriate official name. Earlier, at the end of last month, the Foreign Press Association in Africa (FPAA) also requested Western media to stop using photos of Black people infected with Monkeypox.
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