Amid outbreak in 75 countries, WHO declares monkeypox global health emergency

The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency on Saturday. “The global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

Dr. Tedros noted that more than 16,000 cases have been reported from 75 countries and territories, and there have been five reported deaths, a month after the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations was established to determine whether the multi-country monkeypox outbreak represented a public health emergency of international concern.

Two sources who spoke to Reuters earlier on the condition of anonymity said that members of an expert committee who met on Thursday to consider the potential proposal were divided on the issue, but the director-general of the U.N. agency has the final say.

Tedros acknowledged that the committee had been unable to come to an agreement, with nine voting against and six voting in favour of the declaration during a press conference in Geneva when he announced his decision to proclaim the health emergency.

“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,” Dr Tedros said.

“There is also a clear risk of further international spread, although the risk of interference with international traffic remains low for the moment,” he added.