The World Health Organization (WHO), which will decide today whether monkeypox constitutes a global health emergency, has drawn criticism from leading African scientists who have argued for years that it is a crisis on their continent.
The discussion and review of WHO’s response to the outbreak began after concerns were raised about how the UN-affiliated organization and governments around the world were handling COVID-19 in early 2020.
Monkeypox does not spread as easily as COVID, and unlike the early days of the Corona virus, there are vaccines and ways to treat monkeypox.
According to Reuters data, the number of cases resulting from this outbreak outside of Africa has exceeded 3,000 in more than 40 countries since it was first reported in May. The cases were mostly found among men who had sexual intercourse with men. No casualties were reported.
The viral disease, which causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, is endemic in parts of Africa. On the continent, more than 1,500 suspected cases have been recorded since the beginning of 2022, 66 of which were fatal, according to official data.
Professor Emmanuel Nakoune, acting director of the Pasteur Institute in Bangui, Central African Republic, and conducting monkeypox treatment experiments, said: “When a disease affects developing countries, it is not considered an emergency. But when developed countries are affected, it becomes an emergency.”
However, Nakounde said it would be an important step forward if the WHO declared “a public health emergency of international concern”, the highest level of alert.
“If there is the political will to fairly share the methods of struggle between developed and developing countries, every country will benefit from it,” Nakounde said.
The WHO said they are working on a mechanism to share treatments and vaccines.
Today’s emergency committee meeting is attended by experts from the hardest-hit areas, consulting with scientists, including Nakounde. Experts will advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who will make the final decision on whether to make an emergency call.
This step serves mainly as an alarm and can provide further guidance to the organization and attract the attention of member states.
Most experts agree that monkeypox technically meets WHO’s emergency definition criteria; because it is a sudden and unusual event that spreads internationally and requires international cooperation.
However, WHO is in an uncertain state after COVID, according to Clare Wenham, assistant professor of global health at the London School of Economics.
Wenham said that if a state of emergency is declared and countries do not act, the organization’s role in controlling the disease at a global level may suffer from this.
“They’re going to get backlash whether they announce it or not,” Wenham said.
US increases testing capacity
As of this week, 142 cases of monkeypox have been reported in 24 states and the capital, Washington. The first case in the US was reported on May 17.
“All Americans should be concerned about cases of monkeypox. We now have the tools to deal with and treat cases in America. By significantly increasing the number of testing sites across the country, we are making it possible for anyone who needs to be tested to do so,” said Health Minister Xavier Becerra.
The Department of Health noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has begun sending monkeypox tests to companies Aegis Science, Labcorp, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics and Sonic Healthcare.
The ministry stated that healthcare providers will be able to use these laboratories as early as July.