WHO Declares Mpox a Global Public Health Emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), signaling the urgent need for coordinated global action to combat the outbreak. The announcement was made by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during a press conference in Geneva on Wednesday.
“Today, the emergency committee met and advised me that, in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice,” Dr. Tedros stated. He emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting, “This is something that should concern us all… The potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying.”
A PHEIC represents the highest level of alert under international health regulations, aiming to prompt nations to implement measures that can halt the disease’s spread. The declaration comes as mpox cases reported this year have surpassed the total from last year, with over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths reported, according to WHO data.
The WHO’s decision follows the declaration by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), which has labeled the ongoing mpox outbreak a public health emergency for the continent. “We are not dealing with one outbreak of one clade—we are dealing with several outbreaks of different clades in different countries with different modes of transmission and different levels of risk,” Dr. Tedros explained in his opening remarks at the emergency committee meeting.
In response to the escalating crisis, the European Union has announced plans to procure and donate 175,420 doses of MVA-BN vaccines to Africa, as revealed by the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) on Wednesday. Additionally, Denmark-based biotechnology company Bavarian Nordic will donate 40,000 doses of the vaccine to HERA.
The international community’s mobilization underscores the gravity of the mpox outbreak and the need for a united effort to prevent further spread. Health authorities are urging countries to enhance surveillance, share information, and support affected regions in managing the outbreak.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
