World Health Organization has now categorized the Monkeypox outbreak as a “public health emergency of international concern”.
The announcement was made Saturday by WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
This is the highest level of alert for global disease outbreaks that typically evokes coordinated international response for funding and medical remediations such as vaccine production and procurement.
However, according to unofficial reports, the WHO expert committee which deliberated on the matter was split 9-6 against the declaration in their last meeting on Thursday. Nevertheless, Mr Ghebreyesus made the final call as the number of cases surged and pressure from scientists and public health experts mounted.
At least 16,000 persons in 75 countries have been infected including Nigeria. Five deaths have been reported in Africa. The United States identified its first two cases in children on Friday.
Monkeypus is caused by a virus which spreads chiefly when people are in close contact and its symptoms are somewhat similar to flu with pus-filled lesions on the skin.
This medical emergency comes at a time when the global public health community is still battling the Coronavirus pandemic and Polio outbreaks.
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