Rabat – The World Health Organization (WHO) issued today the highest alert level over the Monkeypox outbreak, describing it as a “public health emergency of international concern.”
The organization’s warning comes amid a worldwide surge in monkeypox cases, with WHO’s Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noting that more than 16,000 infections have to date been reported in 75 countries.
Five deaths have been reported as a result of the monkeypox outbreak, Ghebreyesus added, stressing the risk of a further international spread.
On July 21, WHO’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee held a second meeting to discuss the monkeypox outbreak.
Even though members of the committee remained divided on whether the outbreak should be classified as an international health emergency, WHO has labeled it as such.
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“We have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly through new modes of transmission about which we understand too little,” Ghebreysus said during a media briefing.
According to WHO’s assessment, the monkeypox poses a “moderate” risk globally in most regions, with the exception of Europe where the risk is assessed as high, explained Ghebrysus.
WHO’s declaration is expected to urge a global coordination to contain the virus and pressure governments into taking action to tackle the monkeypox outbreak, including unlocking funding.
First discovered in central Africa in the 1950, Monkeypox spreads via close contact. Its initial symptoms include a high fever, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that spreads over the body.
