WHO declares monkeypox a global health emergency in split vote

Image: WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Nine members of the WHO’s expert committee voted against the designation, while six voted in favour

The WHO confirmed that the monkeypox outbreak represents a ‘public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)’ on Saturday. This label is designed to instigate a coordinated international response and may unlock funding to collaborate on sharing vaccines and treatments. 

Members of an expert committee met on Thursday last week to discuss the designation, after deciding against the emergency label in June. The vote was split, with nine members voting against and six voting in favour. WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he acted as a tiebreaker to resolve the vote.  

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, he said: ‘Although I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern, for the moment this is an outbreak that is concentrated among men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple sexual partners.’ 

Tedros added that the risk of monkeypox is moderate globally, except in Europe which is considered high-risk. Before this decision, the ‘global emergency’ label only applied to the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to eradicate polio.   

Monkeypox is a typically mild viral infection that is endemic in parts of west and central Africa.  It spreads through close contact and can be identified by flu-like symptoms, distinctive rashes and lesions on the skin. So far this year, there have been more than 16,000 cases of the disease in more than 75 countries, and five deaths in Africa. 

There has been a sharp increase in cases over the summer months in Europe.  

For a full rundown on the vaccines and therapeutics available to combat the disease, read our recent article: Vaccine industry must help fight monkeypox and secure supply chains.