The monkeypox outbreak in more than 50 countries, including Austria, is not initially classified as an “emergency of international concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO). The UN organization announced this on Saturday evening in Geneva after deliberations by an emergency committee that had been convened out of concern about the infections.
However, the commission intends to quickly reassess the situation if the infection rate and the number of countries affected increase in the coming weeks, if the number of cases among vulnerable groups increases or if the virus changes. “I am deeply concerned about the spread of monkeypox, which has now been detected in more than 50 countries,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
There have been 3,000 cases since May. Measures such as surveillance, risk communication, contact tracing, isolation, treatment and vaccination should be stepped up to contain the outbreak, he said.
The WHO followed the recommendation of the Monkeypox Emergency Committee. It includes independent experts from around the world who assess the threat situation. A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is the highest alert level WHO can impose on a health threat.
The point is not to alarm the world’s population, but to warn governments to take up the issue.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
