The World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergency committee will meet on Wednesday to determine whether a mpox (monkeypox) outbreak in Africa is considered a ‘global public health emergency.’ The committee, which consists of ‘independent experts’ appointed by the WHO, will meet virtually and advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus whether mpox is a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC). “In light of the spread of #mpox outside #DRC, and the potential for further international spread within and outside Africa, I have decided to convene an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to advise me on whether the outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern,” Ghebreyesus said last week. “The committee will meet as soon as possible and will be made up of independent experts from a range of relevant disciplines from around the world,” he added. In light of the spread of #mpox outside #DRC, and the potential for further international spread within and outside Africa, I have decided to convene an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to advise me on whether the outbreak represents a public health… — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 7, 2024 From POLITICO: Vaccine manufacturers can now apply to WHO for an emergency licence that would allow international groups including UNICEF and Gavi the Vaccine Alliance to procure and distribute their shots, the U.N. body confirmed on August 9. In June, Bavarian Nordic sent 15,000 doses of its vaccine to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the majority of cases have been detected. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has called for “global solidarity”, pointing out that the region needs 10 million vaccine doses but currently has access to just 200,000. The agency confirmed it will also consider whether to declare a continental emergency this week. The virus has now been reported in at least 13 African countries this year. In the past month, four countries — Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda — have reported mpox cases for the first time. There have been 517 deaths from 17,541 confirmed and suspected human cases in 2024 so far. Pay attention to the WHO on Wednesday. Independent experts appointed by the World Health Organization will meet virtually on Wednesday to help decide whether the mpox outbreak in Africa is a global public health emergency.https://t.co/JRj0Zgq94j — Derrick Broze (@DBrozeLiveFree) August 12, 2024 The World Health Organization confirmed it will hold an emergency meeting on mpox and whether to declare the virus as “a public health emergency of international concern” Is this a joke? What happened? Your vaccine didn’t work? — Informed NJ Nurses (@InformedNJNurse) August 12, 2024 “I am convening the Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of #mpox on Wednesday 14 August 2024,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “The Committee will provide me with its views on whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern — and if so, it will advise me on the temporary recommendations on how to better prevent and reduce the spread of the disease and manage the global public health response,” he added. I am convening the Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of #mpox on Wednesday 14 August 2024. The Committee will provide me with its views on whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern — and if so, it will advise me on the temporary… — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 10, 2024 Per Medical Xpress: Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact. The disease causes fever, muscle aches and large boil-like skin lesions. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the country currently most affected by the latest outbreak, with 14,479 confirmed and suspected cases by August 3 and 455 deaths, according to the African Union’s health agency.