WHO renames monkeypox because of racism: The international health body said the name of the virus had racist undertones

The global health body revealed the virus will now be referred to as ‘mpox.’

The new name was decided upon following consultations with health experts and the wider public, and both terms will be used interchangeably for one year before monkeypox is eventually phased out.

“When the outbreak of monkeypox expanded earlier this year, racist and stigmatizing language online, in other settings and in some communities, was observed and reported to WHO,” the organization said.

“Following a series of consultations with global experts, WHO will begin using a new preferred term ‘mpox’ as a synonym for monkeypox. Both names will be used simultaneously for one year while ‘monkeypox’ is phased out,” it added.

The poxvirus was first identified in humans back in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has been endemic in certain African countries including Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, but was rarely reported outside the continent until recently.

No word yet on renaming Chicken Pox, Cow Pox, Avian Flu, African Swine Fever, Black Plague, or if people with minor upper respiratory infections can still say they're "a little hoarse" or "have a frog" in their throat.