In response to the stigma and racism surrounding monkeypox around the world, the World Health Organization announced on Tuesday that the UN agency intends to find a new name for it in the coming days. “We will make announcements on the new names as soon as possible,” promised Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director of the WHO, during a press conference.
Racism and stigmatization
Indeed, monkeypox is originally endemic in West and Central Africa. On 7 May this year, the first case was reported in the United Kingdom and since then, the virus has already infected more than 1,600 people in some 30 countries around the world.
However, there are suggestions that it is an African virus. This stigmatises dark-skinned men, as was the case with China in the previous health crisis; the coronavirus. In its time, some have spoken of the China virus.
Thus, as soon as the first cases appeared, some Western media illustrated their productions on monkeypox with images of black people. This was deplored by groups such as the African Foreign Press Association. “Like any other disease, it can occur in any part of the world and affect anyone, regardless of race or ethnicity,” the group writes. “As such, we believe that no race or skin tone should be the face of this disease,” he continued.
Furthermore, “In the context of the current global epidemic, the continued reference to this virus and its nomenclature as African is not only inaccurate, but also discriminatory and stigmatising,” said a group of more than 30 international scientists, suggesting to WHO that it is “urgent” to rename it.
Since then, WHO has been “working with partners and experts around the world to change the name of the monkeypox virus, its clades and the disease it causes,” says Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Furthermore, it is appropriate for the organisation to give a disease a name because, according to the scientists, this helps to “minimise the negative impact and avoid offending any cultural, social, national, regional, professional or ethnic group”.
Understanding monkeypox
The current epidemic, although of African origin, is still unknown to the population. According to the WHO, monkeypox is a zoonosis caused by a virus (family Poxviridae) of the same genus Orthopoxvirus as that of human smallpox. It is therefore a viral disease with an animal reservoir whose symptoms are similar to those seen in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe. Among the animals that transmit it are various rodents and primates, according to the doctoral student.
Mode of transmission
Monkeypox is transmitted through direct contact with blood, body fluids such as saliva or pus, or skin lesions. It is also transmitted through contact with another infected person, an animal (mainly rodents and primates) or an object that could carry the virus, such as bed sheets or even clothing.
Symptoms of monkeypox
In addition, the period between infection and the onset of the disease, or incubation period, is usually 6 to 21 days. Afterwards, it manifests itself as “a fever that can be high, headaches, enlarged lymph nodes, muscle pain, fatigue and, above all, a rash… Monkeypox causes pimples that can be reminiscent of chickenpox.
Is there a vaccine against monkeypox?
Monkeypox lasts between two and four weeks and in most cases heals spontaneously. However, children, pregnant women and immunocompromised people are those who develop the severe forms of the disease.
There is currently no specific vaccine against monkeypox, but the smallpox vaccine provides cross-immunity. The World Health Organisation estimates its effectiveness at 85%.
Measures taken by the authorities to respond
Since the resurgence of this contagious disease, several countries have taken measures to counter the spread of the virus. In Benin, for example, the Minister of Health stated at a press conference on Wednesday 15 June that the situation is under control. “Benin is ready to face the disease,” reassures Benjamin Hounkpatin.
On Tuesday 14 June, the European Union announced the signing of an agreement with the Danish group Bavarian Nordic for the supply of approximately 110,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine.
