The World Health Organization on Tuesday has declared to hold an emergency meeting on June 23rd to determine whether to classify the global monkeypox outbreak as a health emergency of international concern.
In a pressing, WHO Chief Tedros said- “The outbreak of monkeypox is unusual and concerning. For that reason I have decided to convene the Emergency Committee under the international health regulations next week, to assess whether this outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.”
So far, over 1600 confirmed and almost 1,500 suspected cases of monkeypox have been reported to the health watchdog from 39 countries. Further, so far this year, 72 deaths have been reported from previously-affected countries.
As per the WHO, while disease outbreaks and other acute public health risks are often unpredictable and require a range of responses, the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) provide an overarching legal framework that defines countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders.