WHO calls emergency meeting as more than 3,200 cases of monkeypox are confirmed
More than 3,200 confirmed monkeypox cases and one death were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of the current outbreak.
Key points:
The WHO Director-General said person-to-person transmission of the virus was ongoing and likely underestimated
So far, 48 countries have reported cases in the current outbreak which began in May
The WHO has not yet decided whether to declare monkeypox a global health emergency
On Thursday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there was need for intensified surveillance in the broader community.
He added that cases in non-endemic countries were still predominantly among men who have sex with men.
"Person-to-person transmission is ongoing and is likely underestimated," Dr Tedros said at a meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee.
The meeting of experts was convened by the WHO to decide whether to declare monkeypox a global health emergency, however, the organisation said it did not expect to announce any decisions made by its emergency committee before Friday.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-24/who-calls-emergency-meeting-3200-cases-monkeypox/101180056