Happi, Christian, Adetifa, Ifedayo, Mbala, Placide, Njouom, Richard, Nakoune, Emmanuel, Happi, Anise, Ndodo, Nnaemeka, Ayansola, Oyeronke, Mboowa, Gerald, Bedford, Trevor, Neher, Richard A., Roemer, Cornelius, Hodcroft, Emma, Tegally, Houriiyah, O'Toole, Áine, Rambaut, Andrew, Pybus, Oliver, Kraemer, Moritz U. G., Wilkinson, Eduan, and Isidro, Joana
We propose a novel, non-discriminatory classification of monkeypox virus. Together with the World Health Organization, we named three clades (I, IIa and IIb) in order of detection. Within IIb, the cause the current global outbreak, we identified multiple lineages (A.1, A.2, A.1.1 and B.1) to support real-time genomics surveillance. The current nomenclature for monkeypox virus is stigmatising and misleading. This Perspective article proposes a practical and neutral system of nomenclature that will allow efficient communication without the risk of further misconceptions, discrimination and stigmatisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]