The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to convene its emergency committee on Wednesday, August 14, to assess whether the current Mpox outbreak in several African countries warrants the highest alert level.
The closed virtual meeting will begin at 10 a.m. GMT, as announced in a note to journalists by the WHO. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared on X that the committee will evaluate if the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
\"The committee will provide me with its views on whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern,\" Tedros stated. If the committee deems it necessary, they will also offer guidance on strategies to prevent and mitigate the spread of the disease.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by a virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans and through close physical contact between people. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and large boil-like skin lesions.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently the most affected country, with 14,479 confirmed and suspected cases and 455 deaths reported by the African Union's health agency as of August 3.
The WHO's decision could significantly influence global health policies and the international community's response to the outbreak.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
