WHO declares monkeypox a global health emergency amid rising cases

World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared monkeypox a global health emergency amid rising cases. So far this year, there have been more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox in more than 60 countries and five deaths in Africa. 

A "public health emergency of international concern" is designed to sound an alarm that a coordinated international response is needed and could unlock funding and global efforts to collaborate on sharing vaccines and treatments.

The global health body's



highest level of alert was announced by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday during a virtual briefing.

The WHO chief made the decision to issue the declaration despite a lack of consensus among members of WHO's emergency committee. It was the first time the chief of the U.N. Health agency has taken such an action.

According to the global health body, monkeypox is a viral zoonotic infection caused by the monkeypox virus. It spreads mostly from human contact.