Monkeypox not a global health emergency for now: WHO
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London: The World Health Organisation (WHO) stopped short of calling the escalating monkeypox a global emergency.
The agency is closely observing the outbreak in more than 50 countries where cases are being reported.
WHO emergency committee on Saturday said monkey pox endemic in African countries had been neglected for years, according to Associated Press,
The committee by consensus advised the WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus not to declare the disease a global health emergency at this stage.
The global healthy agency however acknowledged "emergency nature" of the outbreak requiring 'intense' response.
The meeting was called after monkeypox being reported from countries that previously had no cases.
The rapid and continuing spread of the disease to new countries, and sustained transmission into vulnerable population including immunocomoprised, pregnant women and children are concerning, according to the WHO chief.
In Central and West Africa monkeypox has been happening for decades but without causing outbreaks in multiple counties.
Declaring a disease global emergency makes it an "extraordinary" situation requiring globally-managed response.
WHO previously made similar declarations for diseases including COVID-19, Ebola in Congo and West Africa, Zika in Brazil and the ongoing effort to wipe out polio, news agency AP said.
More than 3,200 monkeypox cases in about 40 countries have been confirmed by WHO this week, suggesting the increasing spread of the disease.
A shocking more than 80 percent of the cases are reported in Europe.
Most of those suffering from the disease are men who are gay, bisexual or those having sex with other men.
Just as the cases spread, scientists warn against getting in physical contact somebody infected with monkeypox and anyone using their clothes or bed sheets is at the risk of catching the disease, regardless of sexual orientation, according to AP.