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WHO Declares Monkeypox a Global Health Emergency

July 23, 2022
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Photo Credit: UN News

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the recent international outbreak of Monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. This classification, announced by the WHO’s director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during a press conference on Saturday, 23 June, is the highest alert the United Nations agency can assign. “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,” Ghebreyesus stated. This informed the decision to recognize the danger of the fast spreading disease, despite the failure of the committee to reach a consensus on their advice regarding the issue. Ghebreyesus elaborated that infection risk remains moderate around the globe, except for the European region, where the WHO’s assessment of Monkeypox’s risk is high. Monkeypox’s new status adds it to the same league as coronavirus, which remains a health emergency alongside the efforts of eradicating a resurgence of polio. This new assessment is followed by temporary recommendations to states issued regarding public health, infection prevention and management and travel. With an assurance of low risk to international traffic,…


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