Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for an emergency meeting as part of strategic actions against a widespread Mpox virus in the Democratic Republic Of Congo (DRC).
According to experts, mpox (formerly known as ‘Monkey pox’) is highly infectious and is able to rapidly spread in populated areas.
The decision comes in response to the severe outbreak in the DRC, which has seen over 14,000 cases and over 500 deaths in 2024 alone.
The health threat has prompted officials of WHO to structure plans and prepare containment strategies to stifle the viral spread into other African countries.
Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained in a recent post on X that following the influx of Mpox cases within DRC and neighbouring states, he has called for an emergency meeting with experts and other WHO officials to deliberate on the next line of action. “In the light of the spread of the mpox outside DRC, and the potential for further international spread within and outside Africa, I have decided to convene an emergency committee under the International Health Regulations to advise me on whether the outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.”
The Director-General said at an emergency press briefing held on Wednesday that experts will determine whether the outbreak should be considered a global emergency.