A new outbreak of monkeypox is an ‘international emergency’, says the WHO

The so-called ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC) is the highest level of alert that the WHO can declare. Therefore, the group issues a warning that there is a real threat to public health that could have international consequences. That is why international intervention is needed to fight the disease.

Distribution to other areas

The disease has been around for decades, but this year’s outbreak is unique, said advisory committee chairman Dimie Ogoina. The current version of the disease, known as clade 1b, is already appearing in several African countries, he said. “There is also a chance that it will spread to other regions.”

Experts warned at the press conference that more research is needed to better understand the spread.

Monkeypox, also known as mpox, was classified as PHEIC from July 2022 until May last year. The virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact but can also be spread by sharing clothes or sheets. Men who have sex with men are now mostly infected with the virus, but anyone can get it.

The disease is also circulating in the Netherlands. According to the RIVM, the disease has been confirmed in 1,306 people in the Netherlands since April. The disease is usually milder in humans than smallpox, although it can cause pain and scarring. Sometimes problems occur that can be fatal.

Already more than in 2023

The disease has already been diagnosed 14,000 times this year, Tedros said. That’s more than in all of 2023. 524 deaths have been confirmed so far. Tedros said the situation was “very worrying.” The African Union Public Health Organization had declared the disease an emergency yesterday.

PHEIC has been declared seven times since 2009. In addition to smallpox, this applies to the H1N1 variant, polio, Zika, COVID-19 and twice for Ebola.