The WHO has declared monkeypox a global health emergency. How can a person prevent infection? Image credit: Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the recent monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency.
There are more than 16,000 reported cases of monkeypox within 75 countries and territories.
Monkeypox has a current fatality rate of between 3-6%. A recent study found 95% of monkeypox cases between April and June 2022 occurred during sex between men.
Two vaccines are currently available to help protect against monkeypox.
On July 23, 2022, WHO’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declaredTrusted Source the recent monkeypox outbreak a “public health emergency of international concernTrusted Source (PHEIC).”
According to Dr. Tedros’ official press statement, this decision stems from the current monkeypox outbreak growing to more than 16,000 reported casesTrusted Source within 75 countries and territories, along with five deaths.
“I welcome the decision of the WHO Director to declare the current global monkeypox outbreak a PHEIC,” comments Dr. Boghuma K. Titanji, assistant professor of medicine at Emory University. “For several weeks now the criteria for making monkeypox a PHEIC had been met.”
“I hope that this will raise the international priority level on monkeypox and galvanize a more coordinated global response which has sadly been lacking so far,” she continues.
“It is also an opportunity to get things right on global health equity and access to resources such as testing, vaccination, antiviral medications, etc.
which are areas in which historically we have seen many failures, resulting in countries with limited resources being left behind.”
Monkeypox is a zoonotic virusTrusted Source, meaning it transfers from animals to humans. Some animals that can carry monkeypoxTrusted Source include various species of monkeys, giant-pouched rats, African dormice, and certain types of squirrels.
The disease belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus of viruses, which also includes smallpox.
Because of that, its symptoms are generally similar to, but not as severe as those of smallpox.
