The WHO director-general said Thursday that he was “concerned” about the increase in the number of monkeypox cases during the opening of the Emergency Committee meeting, and asked experts for advice before deciding to access the highest alert level. of the organization.

“I need your advice to assess the immediate and long-term implications for public health of the evolution of this event,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who “remains concerned” about the spread of the disease.

It is responsible for possibly declaring a public health emergency of international concern, the highest alert level of health agencies, according to the Committee’s recommendations.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had asked the experts to “(he) provide the information and advice to inform his decision”, having “fully understood” that this “involves considering many factors, with the ultimate goal of protecting public health”.

Progress since May

The emergency committee meeting lasted less than six hours. But the possible conclusions of the experts have not been made public. The Emergency Committee evaluated the epidemiological indicators, stating that the situation has worsened for the last few weeks with more than 15,300 cases reported in 71 countries, according to the dernier reports of the Health Authorities of Etats-Unis (CDC), the more up to date

Detected in early May, the unusual rise in monkeypox cases outside of West and Central African countries where the virus is endemic has since spread across the world, with Europe as the epicenter.