WHO considers declaring monkeypox emergency

The information was stated by Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a meeting on August 5. "We are considering convening an emergency committee on the International Regulations to advise on the outbreak of monkeypox, whether to declare a public health emergency of international concern," said Mr. Tedros.

A public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) is the highest level of alert issued by the WHO. As director-general, Tedros can declare a PHEIC upon the recommendation of a committee of experts in the field.

The announcement comes amid a sharp increase in monkeypox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has killed many people.

According to statistics from the United Nations health agency, there have been about 8,600 cases of monkeypox in Congo since the beginning of the year, of which 410 have died. "At this rate, we are concerned that the epidemic in Congo could become a source of infection for other countries," said Cris Kacita, the country's epidemic doctor.

Most infections are caused by the new, more dangerous strain, which has a mortality rate of about 5% in adults and 10% in children, compared with about 1% for the older strain, according to the WHO.

Researchers say the new strain is spreading through sexual contact between both men and women, especially among sex workers. Experts are also studying transmission routes from caregivers to children. The disease also appears to cause miscarriages in women, rashes and other symptoms.

Monkeypox is a viral disease that spreads through close contact, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled blisters. Most cases are mild, but it can be fatal. The pathogen was first identified in humans in 1970, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

WHO said that from 2021-2023, the world recorded 92,000 infections and 167 deaths from monkeypox, mainly related to men who have sex with men and people with multiple sexual partners.

Initial cases were concentrated in the United States and several European countries, prompting the United Nations health agency to declare a public health emergency of international concern. This status was lifted in May 2022.

Vietnam detected its first monkeypox case in October 2022. By early this year, the Ministry of Health had recorded more than 68 monkeypox cases, 6 deaths, most of whom had a history of HIV infection. Since then, localities have still recorded sporadic cases of monkeypox.