WHO rules out that monkeypox is an international emergency

MADRID, 26 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The World Health Organization (WHO) has ruled out this Saturday that the monkeypox outbreaks detected in several Western countries constitute an international emergency.

The director general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, has accepted the recommendation of the Emergency Committee, having analyzed the situation and considering that "currently, it does not constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern".

The Committee has discussed the current epidemiological situation, as well as the evaluation of vaccination strategies implemented in certain countries in response to the outbreak, or their availability and accessibility. Following this, he has called for international collaborative efforts.

Experts consider that this is an atypical outbreak, due to the appearance of cases in countries where the circulation of the virus had not been previously documented.

However, although the outbreak does not constitute an international emergency, the researchers have advised that the outbreak be monitored and reviewed to determine if there are significant changes that may vary the measures taken by national and international health authorities.

According to the press release published by the WHO, "the Committee was concerned about the possibility of exacerbating stigmatization and the violation of Human Rights, including the rights to privacy, non-discrimination and physical and mental health, of affected population groups.

Currently, the epidemiological situation places the transmission of the virus in 3,040 cases in 47 countries, according to data reported to the WHO.

"Transmission is occurring in many countries that have not previously reported cases of monkeypox, with the highest numbers of cases currently being reported in countries that are part of the European continent," the press release explained.