absolute the highest level of preparedness, confirming that the monkey pox outbreak "represents a public health emergency of international concern." WHO declared monkey pox a "global emergency", in an effort to contain the outbreak that has so far infected some 17 thousand people in 74 countries in addition to 5 deaths. "

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference today that "the organization has decided to consider the outbreak of chickenpox as a public health emergency of international concern."

"The risk in the world is relatively moderate, with the exception of Europe, where it is considered high," he said.

Ghebreyesus added: "Although I have declared the disease a public health emergency of international concern, to this point, the outbreak of this epidemic is increasing among men who have sex with other men, especially those with multiple sexual relationships."

The World Health Organization (WHO) stressed the need for "coordinated international engagement, the release of funding and concerted global efforts to cooperate in vaccine and treatment exchange".

The Health Organization's characterization of chickenpox as a "public health emergency of international concern" aims to raise the alarm that there is a need for coordinated international engagement and could launch funding and global efforts to cooperate in vaccine and treatment exchanges.