The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday (14 August) declared the monkeypox outbreak, which has affected nearly 16,000 people in 72 countries, to be a global health emergency.
This is the highest alarm it can sound.
Photo via Reuters
According to The Borneo Post, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference that the organization has decided that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.
A committee of experts who met on Thursday was unable to reach a consensus, so it fell on him to decide whether to trigger the highest alert possible.
As of 20 July, monkeypox has affected over 15,800 people in 72 countries according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The surge in infections has been reported since early May in Africa where the disease was declared endemic.
AFP reported the first symptoms of monkeypox are fever, headaches, muscle pain and back pain during the course of five days.
Rashes will subsequently appear on the face, the palms of hands and soles of feet, followed by lesions, spots and finally scabs.
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
