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The first report of mpox that led to the discovery of the global outbreak was made to WHO on May 13, 2022. The outbreak spread to 110 countries2 and was declared a public health emergency of international concern. The Director-General of WHO called on member states to ensure respect for human rights and to address stigma and discrimination. 3 As of Jan 31, 2023, there were 85 549 confirmed cases of mpox reported by 110 countries, including 89 deaths. 2 Mpox is caused by the species monkeypox virus (MPXV), genus Orthopoxvirus, discovered in 1958 in a primate research facility in Denmark, with the first human case reported in 1970. 4 Two virus clades were identified: the Congo Basin (or central African) clade and the west African clade. 5 Although stigma became a concern during outbreaks in Africa, 6 the 2022 global outbreak reignited discussion with proposals to rename virus clades. 7

Although the …