BRIEF—WHO's DG declares multi-country outbreak of monkeypox constitutes an emergency

Following the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee regarding the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox, held on Thursday, July 21, 2022, the Committee Members did not reach a consensus regarding their advice on determination of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for this event.

This year, more than 14,000 cases have been reported across 71 Member States, from all six WHO regions.

Europe is the epicenter of the outbreak and, at present, men who have sex with men are the community at highest risk.

However, on Saturday (July 23), the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a statement saying he recognizes the complexities and uncertainties associated with this public health event.

Having considered the views of Committee Members and Advisors as well as other factors in line with the International Health Regulations, the DG has determined that the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox does in fact constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.