WHO declared Monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

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Decision came on advice from International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee.

Following an Mpox outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and outside Africa, it was declared as global PHEIC for second time in two years.

About Mpox

Viral illness caused by monkeypox virus, a species of genus Orthopoxvirus.
First detected in humans in 1970 in DRC.
Spreads via close contact and tends to cause flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesion.
Occurs mostly in central and western Africa, and affected primarily (but not only) gay, bisexual etc.
Vaccines and therapeutics developed for smallpox and approved for use in some countries can be used for mpox in some circumstances.

As per IHR (2005), an outbreak qualifies as a PHEIC if it is unusual or unexpected; it has potential for international spread; and may require an immediate international action.
- IHR, 2005 is a binding international legal agreement involving 196 countries across globe, including all Member States of WHO.
PHEIC represents the highest level of alert issued by WHO under IHR.
- Since 2009, WHO has declared seven international public health emergencies, including H1N1 influenza pandemic, polio outbreak, Ebola outbreak (West Africa), Zika epidemic, Ebola outbreak (Congo), COVID-19 and Mpox.