The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that it will officially rename the monkeypox virus, which is spreading around the world, due to concerns about causing racism and discrimination.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that WHO is working with partners and experts from around the world to change the name of the monkeypox virus, and that the organization will make announcements about the new names as soon as possible.
WHO announced its decision on the name change last week after more than 30 international scientists said the name monkeypox was “discriminatory and stigmatizing” and needed to be renamed urgently.
“It is discrimination to refer to the fact that this virus is African”
A spokesperson among scientists stated that disease names should avoid geographic regions and animal names. “The constant reference and naming of this virus as African is not only incorrect, but also discriminatory and stigmatizing.” had used the words.
The number of cases is increasing
According to the latest statement of WHO, approximately 1,300 cases of monkeypox have been detected worldwide, mostly in countries in western Europe, where the disease is not endemic.
EU receives monkeypox virus vaccine
Stella Kyriakides, the member of the European Union (EU) Commission responsible for health, said in a statement before the meeting to be held with the health ministers of EU countries, that an agreement will be signed today with the Danish-based biotechnology company Bavarian Nordic for the supply of 110,000 doses of vaccine against the monkeypox virus. According to the EU Commission, around 900 cases of monkeypox have been reported, including in 19 member states and non-EU Norway and Iceland.
The source of the virus is unknown
According to the news of the UAV, the symptoms of the virus, which is reported to have spread through close contact, include symptoms such as skin rashes, fever and headache. Experts also stated that the monkeypox virus, which has been known as an endemic virus species in West and Central Africa for years, can be seen in various mammals, but the actual source of the virus is unknown.
