*The World Health Organisation says it has decided to convene the Emergency Committee under the international health regulations to assess whether this outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that it would hold an emergency meeting next week to determine whether to classify the global Monkeypox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.

绿帽献妻 reports Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the UN health agency Tuesday, June 14, 2022, told reporters: 鈥淭he outbreak of monkeypox is unusual and concerning.

鈥淔or that reason I have decided to convene the Emergency Committee under the international health regulations next week, to assess whether this outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern鈥�.

He noted that the emergency committee will meet June 23 to discuss the designation, which is the highest alarm the UN agency can sound.

Dr. Tedros aso stated: 鈥淲HO is also working with partners and experts from around the world on changing the name of monkeypox virus鈥� and the disease it causes.

鈥淲e will make announcements about the new names as soon as possible.鈥�

It is recalled that before the last few months, Monkeypox had been generally confined to Western and Central Africa, according to report.

Tedros, however, said Tuesday that 1,600 confirmed Monkeypox cases and 1,500 suspected cases have been reported to the WHO this year from 39 countries, 32 of which have been recently hit by the virus.

While 72 deaths have been reported in countries where monkeypox was already endemic, none have been seen in the newly affected countries, Tedros said.

鈥淎lthough WHO is seeking to verify news reports from Brazil of a monkeypox-related death there,鈥� said he.

Therefore, in order to fight the global spread, the WHO aims to recommend 鈥渢ried-and-tested public health tools including surveillance, contact-tracing and isolation of infected patients.鈥�

The health body, nevertheless, does not recommend mass vaccination against monkeypox, he said, after the European Union (EU) Tuesday stated it had purchased almost 110,000 vaccine doses.

The WHO Director-General further said: 鈥淲hile smallpox vaccines are expected to provide some protection against monkeypox, there is limited clinical data, and limited supply.

鈥淎ny decision about whether to use vaccines should be made jointly by individuals who may be at risk and their health care provider, based on an assessment of risks and benefits, on a case-by-case basis.鈥�

Tedros as well stressed the vaccines must be 鈥渁vailable equitably wherever needed.鈥�

WHO is working with its member states 鈥渢o develop a mechanism for fair access to vaccines and treatments,鈥� he added.

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