Worried by the rise in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the spread to nearby countries, the WHO hastily convened a meeting of experts to study the outbreak.
"Today, the emergency committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). I have accepted that advice," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference.
A PHEIC is the highest level of alarm under the International Health Regulations, which are legally binding on 196 countries.
"The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying," said Tedros.
"It's clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives. This is something that should concern us all," he said.
This story is from the August 16, 2024 edition of The Philippine Star.
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This story is from the August 16, 2024 edition of The Philippine Star.
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