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.
About PHEIC
- 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.