WHO convenes emergency committee
The Mpox virus (formerly known as Monkeypox) continues to spread across all parts of the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of laboratory-confirmed cases reported in June has slightly decreased compared to the previous month, from 963 to 934. However, as testing has decreased and not all cases are reported, the WHO estimates that the actual number is likely higher.
The WHO is concerned about a new subvariant in Africa and has convened an emergency committee. The independent experts on the committee will discuss on Wednesday whether the situation constitutes a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern" (PHEIC).
Such a declaration was made in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and again in 2022 due to the previous Mpox outbreak. This does not have immediate consequences but is intended to alert governments and authorities worldwide to prepare for an increase in cases.
Mpox can cause symptoms such as skin rash and fever and can be life-threatening, especially for children. In June, 100 cases were reported from the WHO region of Europe, 175 from North, Central, and South America, and 567 from the African region. Ninety-six percent of cases in Africa were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The WHO's emergency committee was convened due to the concerns about the Mpox virus in Africa. If the committee deems it necessary, they could declare a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern" (PHEIC), similar to previous declarations in 2020 and 2022.
