WHO says Monkeypox is not a global health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced last Saturday, the 25th, that the outbreak of monkeypox cases is not considered a global health emergency. However, he stresses that efforts must be made to contain the spread.

Managing director Tetros Ghebreyesus said in a tweet that he agreed with the advice given by the experts at the emergency committee meeting. Therefore, the disease has not been designated as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

deep concerns about #monkey flower epidemic that represents a serious, evolving threat. I convened the Emergency Committee. Experts advised that it currently does not constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. My explanation: https://t.co/sZIlUSdoGM pic.twitter.com/puOwg4RFTX

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) 25 June 2022

Under the International Health Regulations (IHR), an emergency committee was convened to discuss the current issue. The announcement was made two days later. Currently, only covid-19 and polio are considered PHEIC. This is the highest alert level for health emergencies of global concern.

global spread

More than 3,000 cases of the disease have been detected in 47 different countries since May. Concern arose when cases began to appear in places thought to be non-endemic.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that is normally confined to African countries in tropical forest regions and can be transmitted among different primates, including us humans.

But the current epidemic is mainly concentrated in Europe and among men who have sex with men. WHO suspects that close contact between people may promote the transmission of this touch-borne disease.

However, only one death has been detected so far. Therefore, the committee agrees that efforts should be made to contain cases. The rapid spread is a worrying factor, according to the agency, which acknowledges that the situation could be reassessed in the future.