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- On August 14 (local time), the WHO Emergency Committee met and advised WHO Director-General Tedros that the spread of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and several other African countries could potentially extend beyond the African continent and is considered a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).”
- On the same day, Director-General Tedros declared that the outbreak qualifies as a PHEIC.
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- Declaration of “Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)” On August 14 (local time), the WHO Emergency Committee met and advised Director-General Tedros that the spread of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and several other African countries could potentially extend beyond the African continent and qualifies as a PHEIC. Following this advice, Director-General Tedros declared a PHEIC on the same day.
- About Mpox (1) There are different strains of the mpox virus. According to WHO, strain 1, which may be more severe and contagious than the mpox virus that caused the global outbreak in 2022, has been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, the Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic. (2) In response to WHO’s declaration of PHEIC, on August 15, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an infectious disease risk information alert (Level 1: Exercise Caution) for the seven countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, the Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic. (3) For those planning to travel to or already residing in these countries, please refer to the infectious disease risk information “Mpox Infection Risk Information (Level 1)” and take appropriate precautions to prevent infection.
- Countries/Regions Covered by this Information Worldwide
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