The WHO convened an emergency meeting of the commission on Thursday to discuss the severity of the smallpox outbreak. The results of the meeting were announced on Saturday.
“Overall, in the report, they (the emergency committee) advised me that at this time the event did not constitute a public health emergency of international concern, which is the highest level of warning that the WHO can issue, but acknowledged that the convening of the commission itself reflects growing concerns about the international spread of monkeypox, “said WHO Director-General Tedros Adanom Gebreyesus in a statement issued Saturday.
Tedros on Thursday called for increased surveillance for monkeypox, warning that “while men who have sex with men are most affected by these new outbreaks, there are also risks of serious illness for immunocompromised people, pregnant women and children if are infected. “
Healthcare workers are also at risk if they do not wear appropriate personal protective equipment, Tedros said in his opening remarks at the meeting.
Last week, Tedros said the “virus behaves unusually from the way it has behaved in the past” and as more countries have been affected, a coordinated response was needed.
The statement on Saturday acknowledged the “evolving threat to health”, which the WHO will monitor very closely.
What is a public health emergency of international importance?
The WHO defines a public health emergency of international importance or PHEIC as an “emergency” that poses a “public health risk to other countries through the international spread of the disease” and “potentially requires a coordinated international response”.
This definition comes from the International Health Rules, which were established in 2005 and represent a legal agreement involving 196 countries to help the international community prevent and respond to public health risks that have the potential to spread worldwide.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the regulations as “a legally binding agreement between 196 countries to build the capacity to detect and report potential public health emergencies worldwide.” The IHR requires all countries to have the ability to detect, assess, report and respond to public health events. ”
There are two current emergencies: polio, which began in 2014, and Covid-19, which began in 2020.
Four other PHEICs have been declared since the introduction of the regulations: H1N1 flu from 2009 to 2010, Ebola from 2014 to 2016 and from 2019 to 2020, and the Zika virus in 2016.
There are more than 3,200 confirmed cases of monkeypox and one death reported to the WHO in 48 countries between January 1, 2022 and June 15, 2022, Tedros said in introductory notes.
The death occurred in Nigeria, according to the update of the situation.
Tedros stressed the importance of countries sharing information with the WHO.
“In other outbreaks, we have sometimes seen the consequences of countries not being transparent, not sharing information,” he said. “We need case detection, contact tracking, laboratory testing, genome sequencing and the implementation of measures to prevent and control infections; We need information about the different classes of monkeypox virus; We need clear case definitions to help identify and report infections; And we need all countries to remain vigilant and strengthen their capacity to prevent further transmission of apes. Many countries are likely to have missed opportunities to identify cases, including cases in the community without a recent trip. “
Monkeypox is a rare disease and is a much less severe cousin of the already eradicated smallpox virus.
It is endemic to parts of West and Central Africa and is usually infected by a rodent or small mammal. It is not easily transmitted from one person to another.
However, the monkeypox virus can be spread by contact with body fluids, monkeypox wounds, or items such as clothing and bedding contaminated with the virus. It can also be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets, usually in a tight environment, according to the CDC.
Keith Allen of CNN contributed to this report.
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