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The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to keep its alert for the mpox at the highest level, as the number of cases and countries continued to rise.
“The WHO director-general, agreeing with the advice of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee, has determined that the upsurge of mpox continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern,” the WHO said in a statement.
“The decision was based on the rising number and continuing geographic spread of cases, operational challenges in the field, and the need to mount and sustain a cohesive response across countries and partners,” it added.
The decision was made at the conclusion of the second meeting of IHR Emergency Committee on the mpox upsurge on Nov. 22.
In August, WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak of the viral infection in Africa that could spread outside the continent.
The WHO is expected to issue next week “temporary recommendations” to the 196 IHR state parties, including the Philippines. IHR defines the countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders.
Mpox cases in the Philippines also continue to slowly rise, although the Department of Health (DOH) has opted not to regularly release its data to avoid causing undue fear and panic among the public.
