The WHO does not declare the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
Source: CNN with reference to the results of the emergency committee meeting, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Literally: “The event is not now a public health emergency of international concern, which is the highest level of warning the WHO can issue.”
Details: At the same time, it is noted that the convening of the committee itself reflects concern about the spread of monkeypox in the world.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for increased surveillance of monkeypox.
WHO defines a public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC, as an “extraordinary event” that is “a public health risk to other States due to the international spread of a disease” and “potentially requires a coordinated international response”.
Recall:
- Monkeypox is a rare viral disease
- transmitted to humans from animals. It is commonly found in West and Central Africa.
- Symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, and a skin rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
- Cases of monkeypox infection in recent weeks have been reported outside of Africa – in particular, in Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, the UK, Austria and Sweden.
- Belgium became the first country to introduce a mandatory 21-day quarantine for monkeypox patients.
- The WHO will change the name of the monkeypox virus because scientists believe it is discriminatory due to geo-referencing.