The World Health Organization has declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. Reports from Reuters indicate that the organization’s president, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced this assessment after the Emergency Management Committee convened. Ghebreyesus stated that the committee believed the situation met the threshold for a global health alert and that he accepted that recommendation.
In his briefing, he outlined a projection for 2024 showing a substantial rise in registered monkeypox cases compared with the previous year, with expectations that total cases could reach around fourteen thousand. The statement reflects a cautious outlook from the health authorities about the trajectory of the outbreak as monitoring continues worldwide.
The WHO has made clear that this is an emergency of international concern, a designation used to signal the need for coordinated international action to prevent significant harm to populations across borders. The latest data from WHO indicates a global total of confirmed monkeypox cases well into the tens of thousands, with a number of fatalities and confirmed cases spread across many countries.
Earlier updates from national health agencies noted the progression of monkeypox in various regions, underscoring the importance of surveillance, laboratory capacity, vaccination strategies where appropriate, and public health measures to curb transmission as authorities work to protect communities.
Similar developments were reported by national health bodies as they documented first cases and ongoing transmissions in recent months, highlighting the ongoing need for vigilance, risk communication, and international cooperation to manage and contain the illness.