Monkeypox is now a public health emergency: WHO
New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) said on today that monkeypox is now a public health emergency, with more than 16,000 cases reported from 75 countries and territories. WHO DG Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the risk of monkeypox is “moderate globally and across all regions”. Dr Tedros said, ‘A month ago I asked the emergency committee to assess whether the monkeypox outbreak spreading in many countries is a health emergency or not.’ He said that then 3040 cases were reported in 47 countries. Since then there has been an increase in monkeypox infections and now more than 16,000 cases and five deaths have been confirmed in 75 countries. As the outbreak escalated, I asked the committee on Thursday to revisit the new data and advise me based on that.
The World Health Organization said that the outbreak of monkeypox has reached an extraordinary state, spreading to more than 70 countries. After coming to this situation, it has now been declared a global emergency.
The WHO has also appealed to the common people to be alert in view of the increase in the case. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom decided to issue the declaration despite a lack of consensus among WHO emergency committee members. This is the first time the head of the UN health agency has taken such action. Monkeypox declared a global health emergency.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Saturday that the rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak reflects a global health emergency. A global health emergency is the highest level alert of the World Health Organization. Tredos said that there is now a need for an international response to monkeypox. Along with this, funding and global efforts are needed to cooperate in sharing the vaccine and this treatment. So far, three cases of monkeypox have been reported in India and all three are from Kerala. The third case that came up was a person who had come to India from the United Arab Emirates. At present, he has been admitted to the hospital. The special thing is that all the three patients who fell victim to this disease are from Kerala.
