The World Health Organization on Saturday declared that has spread around the world the unprecedented monkeypox outbreaka public health emergency, a decision that will empower the agency to take additional measures to try to curb the virus’s spread.
In an unusual move, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the declaration even though a committee of experts he had convened to study the issue could not reach a consensus. The same committee met just one month ago and declined to declare a public health emergency of international concern or PHEIC.
This time, in explaining his decision, the director-general said the virus has spread around the world rapidly and through new modes of transmission.
“This is an outbreak that can be stopped with the right strategies,” Tedros said.