WHO declares monkeypox an international emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO), has ruled out Saturday that the recent outbreaks of monkeypox in several Western countries have been an international emergency. Tedros Adhanom Gereyesus, general director of the WHO, has agreed to the Emergency Committee's recommendation after having reviewed the situation and concluded that it did not constitute an International Public Health Emergency.

The Committee discussed the current epidemiological situation and the evaluation of vaccine strategies in certain countries to combat the outbreak. He called for more international collaboration to combat monkeypox.

Experts agree that this is an unusual outbreak because it has occurred in countries where the virus was not known to be present. Although they don't believe it is an emergency situation, researchers recommend that the virus' evolution be closely monitored to see if any significant changes occur that could affect the international and national health authorities.

A WHO statement released this Saturday stated that "the Committee was concerned about exacerbating stigmatization, the violation of Human Rights." He also cites "the right to privacy, nondiscrimination, and physical and psychological health" of the affected populations.

According to WHO data, there have been 3,040 monkeypox cases reported in 47 countries. The WHO adds that monkeypox transmission is taking place in countries that have never reported it, and that the highest number of cases are being reported in European countries.