Why was mpox previously called monkeypox?

Modified on Mon, 23 Sep at 9:27 AM

Mpox was previously called monkeypox because it was first identified in a colony of monkeys kept for research in 1958. It was only detected in humans in 1970.

 

On 28 November 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) renamed the disease from monkeypox to mpox after a series of discussions and consultations with experts worldwide. This change aimed to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with the original name of the disease.

Was this article helpful?

That’s Great!

Thank you for your feedback

Sorry! We couldn't be helpful

Thank you for your feedback

Let us know how can we improve this article!

Select at least one of the reasons
CAPTCHA verification is required.

Feedback sent

We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article