The World Health Organization’s declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern on August 14 has reignited familiar conspiracy theories. Echoing the “plandemic” narratives of the Covid-19 era, some theorists have quickly adapted their rhetoric to suggest that the mpox outbreak is part of a deliberate plan akin to Covid-19.
Key figures from the pandemic’s conspiracy landscape, including French disinformation expert Silvano Trotta, Quebec-based Alexis Cossette, and the anti-restriction group RéinfoCovid, are now promoting the idea that the mpox epidemic is a manufactured crisis. Theories have resurfaced implicating influential figures like Bill Gates, suggesting that his involvement in health initiatives is a guise for financial gain from crises.
A recurrent motif in these theories is the denial of natural disease origins. Mpox, which was first discovered in primates in the 1950s but is now known to primarily affect rodents, is dismissed by conspiracy theorists as a laboratory creation. This mirrors earlier skepticism about the zoonotic origins of Covid-19, with some suggesting that recent lab research on smallpox strains is evidence of deliberate pathogen development.
Despite these claims, experts emphasize that mpox, unlike Covid-19, spreads through physical contact and not airborne transmission. The response to mpox remains significantly different, with no current plans for lockdowns or widespread restrictions. Epidemiologist Antoine Flahault of the University of Geneva highlights that while mpox is a serious concern, it does not warrant the extreme measures seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As mpox continues to spread, it serves as a reminder of how health crises can be co-opted by conspiracy theories, reflecting a broader pattern of misinformation that persists despite evolving scientific understanding.
