WHO Considers Declaring Global Public Health Emergency over Monkeypox Outbreak in Africa

by David Lindfield

The World Health Organization has revealed that the unelected United Nations agency is considering declaring a global health emergency due to an outbreak of monkeypox in Africa.

The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued the warning about monkeypox, also known as mpox, in a post on X.

“But more funding and support for a comprehensive response are needed,” Tedros wrote on Sunday.

“I am considering convening an International Health Regulations emergency committee to advise me on whether the outbreak of mpox should be declared a public health emergency of international concern.”

As a deadlier strain of #mpox spreads to multiple African countries, @WHO, @AfricaCDC, local governments and partners are further scaling up the response to interrupt disease transmission. But more funding and support for a comprehensive response are needed.

I am considering…

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 4, 2024

By Tuesday, it was still unclear when the WHO would declare the emergency or issue any warnings about the virus.

A statement from Tedros published by the journal Science asserted:

“This virus can and must be contained with intensified public health measures including surveillance, community engagement, treatment and targeted deployment of vaccines for those at higher risk of infection.”