The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the global monkeypox virus outbreak an international emergency. That is the highest warning level the WHO can set.
It is the seventh time that the WHO has awarded that status to a virus outbreak. The last time this happened with the coronavirus outbreak in 2020. Previously, the Ebola outbreaks and the Zika virus outbreak were given this status.
🚨 BREAKING:
"For all of these reasons, I have decided that the global #monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern."-@DrTedros pic.twitter.com/qvmYX1ZBAL— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 23, 2022
However, there was no consensus on granting the international emergency. Nine of the committee members were against, six in favor. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, ultimately determined that the monkeypox virus receives this important status. It is the first time that a decision has been taken to declare a state of international emergency in this way.
There are now about 16,000 known cases of monkeypox worldwide, spread over 75 countries. In the Netherlands, the counter stands at more than seven hundred. Worldwide, five deaths have been attributed to monkey pox. Vaccination programs for people belonging to the risk group have now started in several countries.
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