Trump’s CDC brings back “monkeypox” disease name despite racist connotation

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has controversially decided to return to using the term "monkeypox," abandoning the more recent designation of "mpox." This shift comes without any official explanation and raises eyebrows given the name's historical stigmatization, which many believed was put to rest in 2022. Originally labeled as monkeypox due to its discovery in captive monkeys in the late 1950s, the name was criticized for being misleading and promoting racial stereotypes. As the virus has been found to infect a variety of animals, particularly African rodents, the scientific community has largely agreed that the name does not accurately reflect the true nature of the virus's transmission. The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency in response to the outbreaks in 2022 and 2024, urging health officials to reconsider the implications of the disease’s name. The initial spread of the virus was notably linked to networks of men who have sex with men, which has unfortunately led to a resurgence of stigma and discrimination, reminiscent of the early HIV/AIDS crisis. The decision to revert to the outdated name has sparked concerns among clinicians, who report facing both racist and homophobic backlash while treating affected patients. As public health officials work to combat misinformation and discrimination, this reversion could complicate efforts to foster a more inclusive dialogue around the disease and its impact on various communities.