WHO convenes emergency committee as monkeypox spreads beyond DRC

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced it will convene an Emergency Committee regarding the monkeypox outbreak. There are rising concerns about the spread of this virus from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to other African countries and beyond.

So far, the monkeypox virus has mainly been active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where, according to WHO data, since the beginning of the year, it has infected over 14,000 people and has been responsible for 511 deaths. This disease has long been present in the DRC, but in recent years there has been a gradual increase in cases.

The current outbreak is caused by a virus called clade 1b. In the last month alone, 50 confirmed cases of monkeypox have been reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

- In light of the spread of mpox outside (the Democratic Republic of Congo) DRC, and the potential for further international spread within and outside Africa, I have decided to convene an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to advise me on whether the outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern - said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of WHO.

He added that the committee will gather "as soon as possible" and consist of independent experts from various fields.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by a virus that can also be transmitted from human to human. It is characterized by fever, headache, muscle aches, and a rash that resembles pimples, making it difficult to distinguish from chickenpox. This disease most commonly occurs in Africa.