Trump supporters warn of a conspiracy to create monkeypox pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a new strain of Mpox disease, formerly known as monkeypox, a global health emergency.

This announcement by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has sparked a wave of conspiracy theories among supporters of former US President Donald Trump.

Trump's supporters claim the WHO's decision is part of a larger conspiracy to create another pandemic to disrupt the 2024 U.S. presidential election. They argue the timing of the statement, just 82 days before the election, is intended to undermine Trump's campaign.

On social media, these supporters are sharing a video of Trump from last year in which he warned: “The left-wing crazies are trying hard to reimpose Covid lockdowns and mandates, and are suddenly spreading panic about the new variants coming.”

The announcement sparked a flood of hashtags such as #DoNotComply and #WeWillNotComply, as Trump's supporters reject any health requirements that might result from the declaration, calling it a “hoax.”

The resurgence of Mpox, first identified in 1958, became a global problem in 2022, with Congo experiencing a particularly severe outbreak. A more contagious variant has led to over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths in Africa this year alone.

In the past, Mpox mainly affected individuals in Central and West Africa who had close contact with infected animals. However, 2022 marked a turning point when the virus was confirmed to spread through sexual contact, leading to outbreaks in over 70 countries that were previously unaffected, highlighting the global threat.