In June 2022, WHO Director-General met the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to evaluate whether the multi-country monkeypox flare-up represented a general health crisis of global concern.
At that meeting, while at the same time contrasting perspectives were communicated, the panel settled by agreement that the flare-up didn’t represent a general health crisis of global concern.
At that point, 3040 instances of monkeypox had been accounted for to WHO, from 47 nations.
From that point forward, the flare-up has proceeded to grow, and there are currently in excess of 16 thousand detailed cases from 75 nations and territories, with five deaths.
Considering the growing flare-up, WHO Director-General reconvened the advisory team to survey the most recent data and advise him accordingly.
Nonetheless, the board of trustees couldn’t arrive at an agreement on whether the episode represent a global health crisis the world over.
The board of trustees gave reasons behind their failure to reach at an agreement.
To begin with, the data given by nations – which for this situation shows that this infection has spread quickly to numerous nations that poor person seen it previously;
Second, the three criteria for declaring a public health emergency of international concern, which have been met;
Third, the advice of the Emergency Committee, which has not reached consensus;
Fourth, scientific principles, evidence and other relevant information – which are currently insufficient and leave us with many unknowns;
And fifth, the risk to human health, international spread, and the potential for interference with international traffic.
WHO’s assessment is that the risk of monkeypox is moderate globally and in all regions, except in the European region where the organization assess the risk as high.
There is also a clear risk of further international spread, although the risk of interference with international traffic remains low for the moment.
So in short, there is an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly, through new modes of transmission, about which we understand too little, and which meets the criteria in the International Health Regulations.
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WHO have however made a set of recommendations for four groups of countries:
In the first place, those that have not yet reported a case of monkeypox, or have not reported a case for more than 21 days;
Second, those with recently imported cases of monkeypox and that are experiencing human-to-human transmission.
This includes recommendations to implement a coordinated response to stop transmission and protect vulnerable groups;
To engage and protect affected communities;
To intensify surveillance and public health measures;
To strengthen clinical management and infection prevention and control in hospitals and clinics;
To accelerate research into the use of vaccines, therapeutics and other tools;
And recommendations on international travel.
The third group of countries is those with transmission of monkeypox between animals and humans;
And the fourth is countries with manufacturing capacity for diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics.
Meanwhile, WHO’s Member States are also considering designated corrections to the International Health Regulations, including ways of working on the cycle for pronouncing a general health crisis of global concern.
Despite the fact that, the organization declared a health crisis of global worry, for the second this is an episode that is concentrated among men who have intercourse with men, particularly those with numerous sexual partners.
That implies that this is a flare-up that can be halted with the right systems in the right meetings.
It’s thusly fundamental that all nations work intimately with communities of men who engage in sexual relations with men, to plan and convey successful data and administrations, and to take on measures that protect the healtj, basic freedoms and pride of affected communities.
Stigma and discrimination can be as dangerous as any virus.
In addition to WHO’s recommendations to countries, they are also calling on civil society organizations, including those with experience in working with people living with HIV, to work with us on fighting stigma and discrimination.
