Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: We witnessed new, stricter stances from European countries since signing new agreement with IAEA
Saree: Our UAV force targeted the so-called Ramon Airport in the Umm al-Rashrash area in southern occupied Palestine
YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: Our rocket force carried out an operation with a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile targeting a sensitive target in the occupied Yafa area
Trump administration clears first Ukraine arms aid package paid for by allies: Reuters, citing sources
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman receives Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani at his office in Al-Yamamah Palace
Wakim: Surrender is not in our dictionary, and it is not true that "Israel" can implement its project in Lebanon and the region
Wakim: The US is preventing the armament of the Lebanese army. The question is, why are the weapons it is handed over by the Resistance being destroyed?
Wakim: The Resistance is required to hand over its weapons to the [current] authority. The question is: Is this authority independent or subservient to America?

WHO: Monkeypox not a global health emergency yet

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 26 Jun 2022 18:20
4 Min Read

In response to the global Monkeypox outbreak, which was declared a public health emergency of international concern, the WHO did not activate its highest alert level.

  • x
  • WHO says Monkeypox not a global health emergency.
    The vast majority of new cases have been reported in Western Europe.

The World Health Organization's chief said on Saturday that while the monkeypox outbreak was a grave concern, it did not yet constitute a global health emergency.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, convened a committee of experts on Thursday to advise him on whether to issue the UN health agency's strongest warning about the outbreak.

There has been an increase in monkeypox cases outside of the West and Central African countries where the disease has long been endemic since early May. The vast majority of new cases have been reported in Western Europe.

This year, more than 3,200 confirmed cases and one death have been reported to the WHO from more than 50 countries.

Read next: Brazil confirms first case of Monkeypox

"The emergency committee shared serious concerns about the scale and speed of the current outbreak," noting many unknowns about the spread and gaps in the data, Tedros said.

"They advised me that at this moment the event does not constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), which is the highest level of alert WHO can issue, but recognised that the convening of the committee itself reflects the increasing concern about the international spread of monkeypox."

Tedros described the outbreak as "clearly an evolving health threat" that required immediate action to prevent further spread, including surveillance, contact tracing, patient isolation and care, and ensuring vaccines and treatments are available to at-risk populations.

Knowledge gaps 

The committee that looked into the matter was chaired by Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele, a former director of the WHO's Vaccines and Immunisation Department.

Related News

WHO vows to stay in Gaza, appalled by 'Israel’s' evacuation order

Gaza death toll nears 54,000 amid continued Israeli massacres

The five-hour private meeting on Thursday was held both in-person and via video conference at the WHO's Geneva headquarters.

Read next: Monkeypox outbreak suggests undetected spreading: WHO

The committee discussed current observations of case numbers plateauing or potentially declining in some countries, difficulties in contact tracing due to anonymous contacts, and "potential links to international gatherings and LGBTQI+ Pride events conducive to increased opportunities for exposure through intimate sexual encounters."

They were also concerned that stigmatizing affected groups would impede response efforts. They stated that there are knowledge gaps regarding transmission modes, the infectious period, as well as access to vaccines and antivirals and their efficacy.

Blistery rash

A high fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a blistery chickenpox-like rash are typical initial symptoms of monkeypox.

The initial outbreak cases had no epidemiological ties to areas where monkeypox had previously been reported, implying that undetected transmission had been occurring for some time.

To date, only a few people have been hospitalized, and ten cases have been reported among health care workers.

Read next: Diseases suppressed during Covid are coming back

The WHO's current plan for containing the spread focuses on increasing awareness among affected population groups, as well as encouraging safe behaviors and protective measures.

Since 2009, there have been six PHEIC declarations, the most recent being for Covid-19 in 2020 – though the slow global response to the alarm bell continues to irritate WHO headquarters.

On January 30, a PHEIC was declared following the third emergency committee meeting. But it wasn't until Tedros described the rapidly worsening situation as a pandemic on March 11 that many countries seemed to realize the danger.     

Read next: African doctors see double standards after monkeypox noticed now

  • WHO
  • Monkeypox

Most Read

Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Britain Trained Israeli Soldiers Involved in Gaza War: Declassified
Europe

UK training of Israeli officers sparks outcry over Gaza war complicity

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
Politics

Luxembourg to recognize Palestine at UN summit next week

European Union flags flap in the wind outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

EU exec. branch to adopt new sanctions against 'Israel' on Wednesday

Charlie Kirk killing suspect faces charges in Utah court hearing
US & Canada

Charlie Kirk murder suspect faces formal charges in Utah court hearing

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS