The WHO has renamed the two variants of the monkeypox virus. The virus itself is also to be given a new name. But that’s more complicated than you might think.
Since 2015 exist from the WHO official rules for naming pathogens to avoid stigmatization. For example, it is taboo to name pathogens following people, countries or animals. Therefore, media during the Corona-Pandemics urged to use the newly emerging variants – such as the colloquially known as “British variant” – rather than B.1.1.7 and later than Alpha to call.
Also in the case of monkey pox health authorities want to change the name to avoid negative associations with the African continent, but also with monkeys (for the benefit of animal welfare). But here things are a bit more complicated.
New names for monkeypox variants
When monkeypox was first described in 1958, it was still common practice to name viruses following which animal they infect or where they were discovered. In the case of monkeypox, it was monkeys—even though we now know that monkeys are not the only hosts.
Since mid-August, at least the two variants of the monkeypox virus no longer have the same names as the African regions in which they were first found. The WHO announced in a Message the following names: clade I as a designation for the Central African clade and clade II for the West African clade. The latter also has two subvariants, which are identified by letters: clade IIa and IIb. Sequence analyzes suggest that clade IIb is responsible for the current outbreaks outside of Africa. However, some scientists believe that this represents a third lineage of the virus. In this case, there is still no agreement.
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Also causing debate is whether and how to name the monkeypox virus – and not just the variants – and the disease it causes. While the WHO regarding a new disease name already accepting proposals onlinethe official naming of viruses is the responsibility of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). The committee has already started a process to rename the monkeypox virus, but it might take until June next year for the committee to reach agreement.
A new old name
That’s because an expert group at ICTV happens to be in the middle of revising the names of the different types of smallpox. They are to work out proposals for new binomial names for all smallpox viruses – the deadline for this is next June. According to virologist Colin McInnes, a member of the expert group responsible for smallpox viruses, the “new” English name might be: Orthopoxvirus monkeypox. “That is certainly the majority proposal at this point in time,” says is.
The Expert Group is aware of the growing dissatisfaction with the name monkeypox and understands the concerns regarding the stigma. However, McInnes says: “We haven’t made a final decision yet, but I would say that the majority of the committee was in favor of keeping the name monkeypox, if only because of the risk that all the early scientific and epidemiological research that’s out there, get lost. And that’s obviously a lot.”
Image source: Eirik Skarstein, unsplash.
