WHO to decide whether monkeypox deserves maximum alert level

Europe 1 4:47 p.m., July 21, 2022

The WHO Expert Committee on Monkeypox began its meeting in Geneva on Thursday to determine whether the current outbreak of cases constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, its highest level of alert.

The meeting has begun, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed to AFP, and is expected to last several hours.

15,300 cases recorded in 71 countries

This Emergency Committee will be responsible for evaluating epidemiological indicators, as the situation has worsened in recent weeks with more than 15,300 cases now recorded in 71 countries, according to the latest figures from the United States health authorities (CDC). .

"Regardless of the Committee's recommendation, the WHO will continue to do everything possible to stop monkeypox and save lives," assured Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the UN agency, in advance at a press conference on Wednesday. .

>> READ ALSO - Monkey pox: WHO calls for "urgent" action in Europe in the face of soaring cases

At a first meeting on June 23, the majority of experts recommended that Dr. Tedros not declare a public health emergency of international concern.

Detected in early May, the unusual upsurge in monkeypox cases outside central and western African countries where the virus is endemic has since spread across the globe, with Europe as its epicenter.

First detected in humans in 1970, monkeypox is less dangerous and contagious than its cousin smallpox, eradicated in 1980. In most cases, sufferers are men who have sex with men, relatively young, and living mainly in cities, according to the WHO.

"Full Confidence"

As of July 18, the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CEDC) has recorded 7,896 monkeypox virus infections.

Spain is the most affected, with 2,835 cases, followed by Germany (1,924), France (912), the Netherlands (656) and Portugal (515), the majority of cases concerning "groups of 'men who have sex with men aged 18-50'.

Outside of Africa, "99% of reported cases are men," said Dr Rosamund Lewis, the WHO's leading expert on monkeypox, on Wednesday, and 98% of them are "men who have sexual relations with men, and mainly those who have multiple recent partners, new or anonymous".

"The community that is currently infected is one of the most committed, powerful and responsible that we have, which has worked so hard for years to bring an even more deadly virus" (HIV) under control and has the "full confidence " of the WHO, pointed out on Wednesday the head of WHO emergencies, Dr Michael Ryan.

The health agency is working closely with civil society and LGBTQI+ communities to facilitate the dissemination of information about the disease, especially on the sidelines of summer festivals and Pride marches.

“These are important celebrations of identity: it is also very important that these places, events and activities share information for people to protect themselves”, added Dr Lewis.

Rare vaccines

The health agency is working in parallel with member states and experts to advance research and development around the virus.

"Even though we are seeing a downward trend in some countries, others are still facing an increase, and six countries reported their first cases last week," Dr Tedros said.

"Some of these countries have much less access to diagnostics and vaccines, which makes the outbreak more difficult to trace and stop," while vaccine stocks are scarce, he added.

The Danish company Bavarian Nordic, the only laboratory producing an authorized vaccine against monkeypox, announced on Tuesday that it had received an order for 1.5 million doses, most of which will be delivered in 2023, from a European country whose name is n did not filter, while the United States ordered 2.5 million additional doses.