WHO "Monkeypox Emergency Meeting"... Decision on Public Health Emergency Status

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO)
[Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it will reconvene monkeypox experts in mid-June to determine whether the current situation qualifies as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

According to AFP, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated at a press briefing held in Geneva on the 6th (local time) that the second emergency committee on monkeypox will be convened around the 18th.

He said, "We remain concerned about the scale and spread of the virus," adding, "A significant number of cases may have gone unreported due to insufficient testing." He also noted, "Europe accounts for more than 80% of global monkeypox cases, making it the epicenter of the outbreak."

PHEIC is the highest level of alert issued by WHO regarding diseases that are spreading globally. Previously, WHO experts held an emergency meeting on the 23rd of last month to discuss whether monkeypox qualifies as a public health emergency. However, the majority opinion at that time was that it did not meet the criteria for PHEIC.