A CNN medical correspondent praised the World Health Organization (WHO) Monday for announcing it would change the name of monkeypox to “Mpox.”
“The WHO says it’s Mpox and there is an interesting reason for this, kind of a sad reason in many ways,” Elizabeth Cohen told “CNN Newsroom” host Ana Cabrera. “There is a concern that monkeypox, that the word engendered stigma.”
The WHO announced the name change in a Monday release, declaring the monkeypox should now be called Mpox due to “racist and stigmatizing language online, in other settings and in some communities.” The term “monkeypox” will be phased out over the next year, the WHO’s release stated.
WATCH:
Dr. Ashwin Vasan, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, wrote to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, in July, urging the name change.
“NYC joins many public health experts and community leaders who have expressed their serious concern about continuing to exclusively use the term ‘monkeypox’ given the stigma it may engender, and the painful and racist history within which terminology like this is rooted for communities of color,” Vasan’s July 26 letter said.
“Just another note that monkeys have nothing to do with this virus, it’s really a misnomer, so it’s now Mpox,” Cohen said.
The United States reported 29,248 cases of monkeypox as of Friday, with 14 fatalities resulting from the disease, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The disease was first reported in 1958 by researchers using monkeys in research, according to the CDC website, with the first human case taking place in 1970.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- Police chief who groveled after discussing ‘East African crime’ panders to Somalis again - December 17, 2025
- Ilhan Omar whines about ICE operations in Minneapolis - December 17, 2025
- ‘It’s all bullsh*t’: Tim Walz goes on anti-Second Amendment rant - December 17, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
