WHO: More than 6,000 monkeypox cases reported, emergency meeting set
Health 05:29 PM - 2022-07-07Photo credit: Reuters
More than 6,000 cases of monkeypox have now been reported from 58 countries in the current outbreak, the World Health Organization said.
The U.N. agency will reconvene a meeting of the committee that will advise on declaring the outbreak a global health emergency, the WHO's highest level of alert, in the week beginning July 18 or sooner, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference from Geneva.
At its previous meeting on June 27, the committee decided that the outbreak, which has seen cases rising both in the African countries where it usually spreads and globally, was not yet a health emergency.
"I continue to be concerned by the scale and spread of the virus across the world," Tedros said, adding that a lack of testing meant that there were likely many more cases going unreported.
Around 80% of cases are in Europe, he said.
Monkeypox, a usually mild viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, has been spreading worldwide since early May.
The fatality rate in previous outbreaks in Africa of the strain currently spreading has been around 1%, but so far this outbreak seems to be less lethal in the non-endemic countries.
PUKmedia/Reuters
More news
-
Congratulatory Messages on International Labour Day
01:28 PM - 2024-05-01 -
Four Factions Reject Postponement of Kurdistan Parliamentary Elections
07:28 PM - 2024-04-30 -
UAE Classifies Khor Mor Attack as Terrorism, International Violation
07:49 PM - 2024-04-27 -
Officials Call for Urgent Investigation Into Khor Mor Gas Field Attack
10:31 PM - 2024-04-26
see more
President Bafel & al-Sudani: Cornerstone for Overcoming Obstacles Should Be Applicable Laws
04:18 PM - 2024-05-03
Qubad Talabani: Journalists Play a Crucial Role in Maintaining Democracy
01:54 PM - 2024-05-03
Ziad Jabar: Kurdistan Region Needs Effective Government & Parliament
02:56 PM - 2024-05-02
PUK Politburo: We Oppose Any Unfair Attempts to Delay the Scheduled Elections
12:17 AM - 2024-05-02
Most read
-
President Bafel & al-Sudani: Cornerstone for Overcoming Obstacles Should Be Applicable Laws
P.U.K 04:18 PM - 2024-05-03 -
PUK President: Our Goal is to Safeguard National Stability
P.U.K 08:39 PM - 2024-05-03 -
Qubad Talabani: Journalists Play a Crucial Role in Maintaining Democracy
Kurdistan 01:54 PM - 2024-05-03