United Nations: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a World Health Emergency over the increasing threat of ampox. ampox, also known as monkeypox, is spreading rapidly in 13 African countries including Congo. So far 524 people have died from this disease. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus gave a media briefing after the meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee on the increase of ampox. He said that this is the second time in three years that ampox has reached emergency status. He said that WHO is working on the outbreak of ampox in Africa.
‘Accepted the advice of the committee’
\
The Director-General of the World Health Organization said in a statement that last week I announced that I am convening an emergency committee under the International Health Regulations to evaluate the increase of ampox in Congo and other countries of Africa. Now the emergency committee met and advised me that in their view the situation regarding ampox is an international public health emergency. I have accepted the advice given by the committee.
Ampox can spread outside Africa
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that a new group of ampox has been detected in eastern Congo and it is spreading very fast in neighboring countries as well. Where ampox was not reported earlier, it has now knocked there too. It is likely to spread in Africa and beyond, which is extremely worrying. The WHO Director-General said that a coordinated international response is necessary to stop the growing threat of ampox in other parts of Africa and save lives.
WHO is ready to work
Global health emergency is the highest level of alarm under international health law. The WHO Director-General said that the World Health Organization is committed to coordinating the global response in the coming days and weeks, working closely with each affected country, preventing infection, treating infected people and saving lives.
The situation in Congo has been dire
Let us tell you that cases of ampox have been reported in Congo for more than a decade and the number of cases reported has steadily increased every year. Last year, there was a significant increase in reported cases and the number of cases reported so far this year has exceeded last year’s total, with more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths.
