The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the monkeypox outbreak in more than 50 countries an “emergency of international concern.”
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared the escalating global monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
He said in a statement on Saturday that currently, the vast majority of reported cases are in the WHO European Region, and assured that WHO/Europe remains committed to partnering with countries and communities to address the outbreak with the required urgency.
“Although I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern, for the moment this is an outbreak that is concentrated among men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple sexual partners,” Director-General, WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said.
“That means that this is an outbreak that can be stopped with the right strategies in the right groups,” he added.
Although declaring an emergency is WHO highest alert level for health threat, it has no immediate consequences, and only meant to alert governments to take action to protect their populations.
Although I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern, for the moment this is an outbreak that is concentrated among men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple sexual partners.
An ongoing outbreak of the viral disease monkeypox was confirmed in May 2022, beginning with a cluster of cases found in the United Kingdom.
From May 18 onwards, cases were reported from an increasing number of countries and regions, predominantly in Europe, but also in North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
As of July 23, there have been a total of 17,186 confirmed cases, while since the beginning of 2022, 72 deaths have been reported in Africa.
