SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – As the monkeypox virus continues to spread both nationally and internationally, many are calling for a change in the name.
A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the virus has been found in 47 states. New York state carries the most cases with over 1,300 reported. Health officials have discussed a potential change to the virus’s name to avoid the possibility of a racial stigma associated with the virus.
Onondaga County Medical Director, Dr. James Alexander, said any changes that would happen need to be considered at the national or international level first.
“If it’s being interpreted as a pejorative term, that would certainly need to be addressed on a national or even international basis,” Alexander said.
Alexander mentioned the virus is a part of a larger group called orthopoxvirus.
“This orthopoxvirus in particular has been named monkeypox, not because it was ever known to be found in wild monkeys, but because some laboratory monkeys were infected with monkeypox,” he said.
Alexander also discussed the importance of not labeling this virus as a sexually transmitted disease.
“Many of the monkeypox outbreaks that we’re seeing are from direct skin to skin contact and not a sexual transmission. While the virus can spread through close contact, we are not defining it as an STD at this point,” he said.
Health officials like Alexander are echoing a similar message. Many are encouraging individuals to look at scientific data prior to making any judgements on the virus outbreak.
Over 5,000 cases of the monkeypox virus have been reported in the U.S. The only three states that do not have reported cases thus far include Montana, Wyoming and Vermont.
