The World Health Organisation (WHO)’s overall 15 of the 16 Committee members and all 10 Advisers to the Committee of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee, have determined monkeypox a public health emergency concern.
At their second meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee, which was reconvened by Zoom, to assess the immediate and medium-term public health implications of the evolution of the multi-country monkeypox outbreak, and provide their views on the event.
The WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said they are concerned about the increasing number of cases as well as the number of countries that have so far reported confirmed cases of monkeypox to them. He expressed challenges presented due to the complexity and uncertainties associated with the public health event due to its transmission patterns in different regions.
Currently, communities of gay, bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men are providing "tremendous leadership in the context of this outbreak," according to the WHO Communications office.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Adviser on HIV, Hepatitis, and STI programs, Andy Seale, said, "Nearly 70 countries are affected by this outbreak." Previously affected countries are mainly in West Africa. "
He advised on precautionary steps to be considered by States Parties, especially those with no history of monkeypox in the human population for over 21 days. He said the following should be considered, including implementing coordinated response, engaging and protecting communities, surveillance and public health measures, clinical management, and infection prevention and control, medical countermeasures research, and international travel, among other measures.
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