WHO declares highest alert over monkeypox
The World Health Organization has designated the monkeypox outbreak a worldwide health emergency.
The categorization, which comes after a global spike in infections, is the highest alert the WHO can issue.
It was announced at the conclusion of the WHO’s emergency committee on the virus’ second meeting.
According to WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, more than 16,000 cases have currently been reported from 75 different countries.
He stated that the outbreak has already resulted in five deaths.
Only two such comparable medical crises exist today: the coronavirus epidemic and the ongoing fight to eradicate polio.
According to Dr. Tedros, the emergency committee was unable to agree on whether the epidemic of monkeypox can be considered a global health emergency.
However, he claimed that the virus had quickly spread over the globe and that he had come to the conclusion that it was really of global importance.
“The WHO’s assessment is that the risk of monkeypox is moderate globally and in all regions, except in the European region, where we assess the risk as high,” he added.
Although the potential of interfering with international traffic was now modest, he added that there was still a definite risk of further international spread.
According to Dr. Tedros, the statement will hasten the creation of vaccines and the implementation of strategies to stop the virus’s spread.
The WHO is also making suggestions in an effort to encourage nations to take steps to curb the virus’s spread and protect people who are most vulnerable.
“This is an outbreak that can be stopped with the right strategies in the right groups,” Dr Tedros said.
Monkeypox was firstly discovered in central Africa in the early 1950s.
