The World Health Organization (WHO) holds an emergency meeting today (23rd) to discuss whether monkeypox has been declared an 'international public health emergency'.
The final decision will be made by the WHO Director-General after giving opinions on whether to declare a state of emergency at the meeting of the emergency committee, which is made up of infectious disease experts.
An international public health emergency is the highest level of alert issued by the WHO in relation to a global disease, currently applicable to COVID-19 and polio.
The WHO also plans to announce a new name for monkey pox soon, as the origin of the virus is unclear.