America reverts to calling mpox ‘monkeypox’ in anti-woke drive
September 30, 2025
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s decision to revert from “mpox” back to “monkeypox” undermines years of effort to reduce stigma and align with scientific accuracy. The term monkeypox is misleading, as rodents are the virus’s primary reservoir, and it carries racial and homophobic connotations that fueled misinformation during the 2022 outbreak. The World Health Organization recommended the neutral term “mpox” to avoid these harms. Reinstating outdated terminology risks worsening stigma, hampering public health messaging, and repeating the missteps seen during COVID-19. Language matters in science and health, and this reversal is both regressive and dangerous.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has quietly reverted to calling mpox “monkeypox,” reversing its 2022 adoption of the updated World Health Organization (WHO) terminology. The change may appear trivial, but it carries profound implications for science, public health, and social trust.
The original name “monkeypox” is scientifically inaccurate. The virus’s primary animal reservoirs are small rodents in Central and West Africa, not monkeys. The name was a historical accident, coined in the 1950s when the virus was first identified in monkeys imported to Europe. WHO recommended “mpox” to correct this misconception and avoid unnecessary negative impacts on trade, animal welfare, and communities.
More importantly, the term monkeypox has long been criticized for its stigmatizing undertones. During the 2022 outbreak, the name fueled racist stereotypes linking the virus to Africa, as well as homophobic misinformation on social media. False claims that the virus was transmitted through sex with monkeys spread widely, undermining public health efforts. WHO’s decision to rename the virus was explicitly designed to minimize stigma and strengthen global response.
By abandoning “mpox,” the CDC risks reversing progress at a time when outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone demand clear, stigma-free communication. Stigmatizing language not only fuels discrimination but can also discourage testing, treatment, and vaccination among the populations most affected, particularly gay and bisexual men and people living with HIV.
The decision echoes past controversies, such as the Trump administration’s use of “Chinese virus” for COVID-19, which was widely condemned for inflaming prejudice and violence. Disease names are not just labels—they shape narratives, influence behavior, and impact global cooperation.
In public health, words matter. Reinstating “monkeypox” is more than a semantic choice. It is a setback for equity, science, and effective epidemic control.