(CMR) The World Health Organization is working with experts to come up with a new name for monkeypox after more than 30 scientists said there was an “urgent need for a non-discriminatory and non-stigmatizing” name for the virus and the disease it causes.
The scientists argued that continued reference to the virus as African is inaccurate and discriminatory. Approximately, 1,600 cases of the disease have been recorded globally in recent weeks in 32 newly affected countries.
According to the BBC, as of 12 June, there were 452 confirmed cases in England, 12 in Scotland, 2 in Northern Ireland, and 4 in Wales.
The World Health Organization will hold an emergency meeting next week to determine whether to classify the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern, BBc revealed.
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The outbreak of monkeypox is unusual and concerning. For that reason I have decided to convene the Emergency Committee under the international health regulations next week, to assess whether this outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.”
Monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the same family of viruses as smallpox, although it is much less severe.,Infections are usually mild and the risk to the general population is low.
The virus has been spreading in an unusual manner around the world in recent months. Previous outbreaks have been mainly confined to parts of Africa where rodents are thought to be the main animal host.
The BBC reported that while it has not previously been described as a sexually transmitted infection, it can be passed on by close contact.
Anyone with the virus should abstain from sex while they have symptoms.
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