World

WHO convenes emergency committee amid international mpox outbreak

Aug 14, 2024

Geneva [Switzerland], August 14: Cases of the infectious viral disease mpox are continuing to occur around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported from Geneva, adding that it has convened its Emergency Committee to discuss the outbreak.
Confirmed cases of the disease, formerly known as monkeypox, declined slightly in June to 934 from 963 in May, but the WHO is assuming incidence is probably higher, as not all cases are being recorded and testing has declined.
The committee is to discuss the spread of a new clade, or variant, on Wednesday as they deliberate on whether a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) should be declared. Emergencies of this kind were declared in 2020 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic and in 2022 on account of an earlier mpox outbreak. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune