The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency after the virus has reached more than 70 countries.
Its CEO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told a news conference on Saturday that the outbreak represents a “public health emergency of international concern.”
“The WHO assessment is that the risk of monkeypox is moderate globally and in all regions except Europe, where we assess the risk as high,” he said.
He said the WHO had received reports of just over 3,000 cases from 47 countries at one point, but now more than 16,000 cases have been reported in 75 countries and territories.
Monkeypox has spread rapidly in the United States since the first cases were detected last May. The virus seems to spread mainly between men who have sex with men and through prolonged physical contact.
The virus can cause symptoms such as lesions, rashes, and swollen lymph nodes. For countries that have not seen any cases or have not reported a case in 21 days, they should take steps such as activating health mechanisms to prepare for responding to monkeypox and raise awareness of transmission, according to a WHO statement.
Countries with recently imported monkeypox cases that are experiencing human-to-human transmission, including the United States, should implement a coordinated response, work to engage and protect their communities, and implement public health measures such as isolating cases and using vaccines. said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The Biden administration announced earlier this month that it would distribute an additional 144,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine after having already distributed some 40,000 doses.
