The city of New York asked the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday to change the name of monkeypox, “monkeypox” in English, a name considered stigmatizing and that risks pushing patients to isolate themselves instead of seeking attention.
“We are increasingly concerned about the potentially devastating and stigmatizing effects that messages about the ‘monkeypox’ virus can have on (an) already vulnerable community,” writes New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan, in a letter to the WHO. General Director Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The latter had also mentioned this possible change in mid-June, which Ashwin Vasan recalls in his letter.
Racism and stigma
In his letter he recalls the negative effects of false information during the appearance of the AIDS virus (HIV) or the racism suffered by Asian communities after the Covid-19 pandemic, which US President Donald Trump had described as ” chinese virus.
“Continuing to use the term ‘monkeypox’ to describe the current outbreak may rekindle these traumatic feelings of racism and stigma, especially for Black people and other people of color, as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ communities, and may avoid using life-saving medical care.” services for this reason”, adds Ashwin Vasan.
Anyone can get monkeypox, but since its appearance in Europe and the United States, the virus has spread overwhelmingly among men who have sex with men.
Source: BFM TV
