WHO declares rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency. The WHO declared monkeypox a global health emergency.
The rare designation means the WHO now views the outbreak as a significant enough threat to global health that a coordinated international response is needed.
The WHO last issued a global health emergency in January 2020 in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. Europe is the epicenter of the outbreak. Right now, men who have sex with men are the community at highest risk.
The WHO chief said the global risk is moderate, but the threat is high in Europe. Monkeypox is unlikely to disrupt international trade or travel right now, the WHO chief said.
The World Health Organization has activated its highest alert level for the growing monkeypox outbreak, declaring the virus a public health emergency of international concern.
The rare designation means the WHO now views the outbreak as a significant enough threat to global health that a coordinated international response is needed to prevent the virus from spreading further and potentially escalating into a pandemic.
