Geneva, 25 July 2022 (TDI): The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the Monkey Pox an international emergency. He brought the World’s attention to the spread of monkeypox globally. He said;
“In light of the evolving monkeypox outbreak with over 16,000 reported cases from 75 countries & territories, I reconvened the emergency committee.
For all of these reasons, I have decided that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.”
🚨 BREAKING:
“For all of these reasons, I have decided that the global #monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.”-@DrTedros pic.twitter.com/qvmYX1ZBAL— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 23, 2022
Monkeypox is caused by a monkeypox virus generally known as orthopoxvirus. The virus is generally transmitted to humans from close contact with animals and infected individuals. The symptoms of the disease are similar to smallpox that are lasting from 2 to 4 weeks.
Generally, monkeypox cases were reported in Central or West Africa where is disease is epidemic. Since May 2022, cases of the disease are reported in non-epidemic countries of Europe and North America.
This is the first time when the disease is reported in non-endemic and endemic countries in widely disparate geographical areas.
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WHO Director-General’s statements on the outbreak of monkeypox
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus gave the press remarks on the monkeypox outbreak on 23 July 2022. He said;
“A month ago, I convened the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to assess whether the multi-country monkeypox outbreak represented a public health emergency of international concern.
At the time, 3040 cases of monkeypox had been reported to WHO, from 47 countries. At that meeting, while differing views were expressed, the committee resolved by a consensus that the outbreak did not represent a public health emergency of international concern.
But since then, the outbreak has continued to grow. In light of the evolving outbreak, I reconvened the committee on July 22, 2022, to review the latest data and advise me accordingly.
On this occasion, the committee was unable to reach a consensus on whether the outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.
Under the International Health Regulations, I am required to consider five elements in deciding whether an outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
First, the information provided by countries – which in this case shows that this virus has spread rapidly to many countries that have not seen it before.
Second, the three criteria for declaring a public health emergency of international concern, have been met.
Third, the advice of the Emergency Committee, which has not reached a consensus;
Fourth, scientific principles, evidence, and other relevant information – are currently insufficient and leave us with many unknowns.
And fifth, the risk to human health, international spread, and the potential for interference with international traffic.
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.
There is also a clear risk of further international spread, although the risk of interference with international traffic remains low for the moment.
We have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly, through new modes of transmission, about which we understand too little, and which meets the criteria in the International Health Regulations.
For all of these reasons, I have decided that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.”
