Members of an expert committee that met on Thursday to discuss the possible recommendation were divided on the decision, two sources who spoke on condition of anonymity told Reuters earlier, but the final decision rests with the agency’s director general. UN.
Announcing his decision to declare the health emergency during a media briefing in Geneva, Tedros confirmed that the committee had not reached a consensus, with nine members against and six in favor of the declaration.
Previously, Tedros used to support the recommendations of the expert committees, but the sources said that he had probably decided to support the highest alert level due to concerns about the increase in cases and the shortage of vaccines and treatments, despite the lack of a majority opinion.
Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown law professor in Washington, DC, who follows the WHO, said he applauded the body’s political courage.
“It does nothing more than polish the stature of the WHO. The correct outcome is clear: failing to declare the emergency at this time would be a historic missed opportunity.”
So far this year there have been more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox in more than 75 countries, and five deaths in Africa.
The viral illness – which is spread by close contact and often causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions – has spread mainly to men who have sex with men in the recent outbreak, outside of Africa, where it is endemic.