Should We Be Worried About Monkeypox? WHO Declares Global Emergency

Berfin Ceren Meray
Onedio Member
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global emergency due to the rapid spread of monkeypox, particularly in Africa. What does this mean for the world, and how serious is the threat? Virologist Semih Tareen provides an in-depth analysis and urgent warnings about the monkeypox virus. Click here to discover why this outbreak is making headlines and what you need to know!

An emergency was declared worldwide on August 14th, following the reporting of 14,719 suspected monkeypox cases across 13 countries in Africa and the confirmation of 2,822 cases as of August 8th.

The outbreak, which has resulted in 517 deaths in the region, has caused significant global concern.

Virolog Semih Tareen issued a warning by recalling past cases and WHO decisions: the emergency declared in 2022 lasted for 10 months!

Tareen, who stated that 'there is no extraordinary situation we do not know about,' explained in detail what the emergency declaration means.

Initially, the Africa CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Africa) declared the emergency.

Subsequently, it was announced in English with the acronym PHECS, standing for 'Public Health Emergency of Continental Security.' Finally, the WHO declared a 'global emergency.'

Why are emergency declarations made?

An emergency (PHEIC: 'public health emergency of international concern') can be declared if two of the four conditions specified under the International Health Regulations (IHR) are met.

The International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) provide the international legal framework for preventing and responding to disease outbreaks. The IHR is an international legal instrument adopted under Article 21 of the WHO Constitution and is legally binding for 196 states, including 194 member states.

The provisions in the WHO IHR include:

  • Is the impact on public health serious?

  • Is the situation unusual or unexpected?

  • Is there a high risk of international spread?

  • Could it pose a serious risk to international travel or trade?

The declaration allows countries, governments, and even continents to budget for 'public health' measures.

For example, the emergency declaration for monkeypox in 2022 led to measures that reduced cases and deaths.

So, what is the Monkeypox Virus?

The monkeypox virus is one of many poxviruses that cause different diseases. These poxviruses can infect humans, monkeys, cows, sheep, deer, and even seals and whales.