The increasing spread of Mpox has called for a Public Health Emergency Alert of International Concern (PHEIC), by the World Health Organization.
The alert was issued after a sitting organized by Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus with a special emergency committee on late Wednesday, to decide on the next line of action.
According to reports, the health emergency alert emerges for the second time in two years and is widespread in countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya, where infections had not been registered in previous outbreaks.
The African Union (AU) has also responded after alerts from Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), by urging its member countries to strengthen health systems and ensure the availability of vaccines and treatments. The AU’s Africa CDC is coordinating efforts to support affected regions in Africa.
The United Nations has expressed support for the WHO’s decision, urging member states to collaborate and prioritize the containment of the mpox outbreak. The UN emphasizes the importance of a coordinated response to prevent the spread of the virus across borders.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has advised European Union member states to enhance their surveillance and preparedness measures. The ECDC is working closely with the WHO to provide guidelines and resources to manage the outbreak effectively.