With 72 deaths, reported from previously-affected countries, the World Health Organization -WHO has confirmed that it has received reports of more than 1,600 confirmed cases and almost 1,500 suspected cases of monkeypox from 39 countries – including seven countries where monkeypox has been detected for years, and 32 newly-affected countries.
WHO in a recent press briefing said it is seeking to verify the news reports from Brazil of a monkeypox-related death and added that it hopes to support countries to contain transmission and stop the outbreak with tried-and-tested public health tools including surveillance, contact-tracing, and isolation of infected patients.
Though WHO said it has not recommended mass vaccination against monkeypox but informed it has published interim guidance on the use of vaccines for the disease and reiterated the importance of increased awareness of the risks and actions tailored to reduce onward transmission for the most at-risk groups, including men who have sex with men and their close contacts.
Whilst saying that it is working with partners and experts from around the world on changing the name of the monkeypox virus, its clades, and the disease it causes, the global health organization said it would make announcements about the new names as soon as possible.
While smallpox vaccines are expected to provide some protection against monkeypox, there is limited clinical data, and limited supply, WHO also stated that any decision about whether to use vaccines should be made jointly by individuals who may be at risk and their health care provider, based on an assessment of risks and benefits, on a case-by-case basis.
Also, new mechanism for fair access to vaccines and treatments of Monkeypox is also been developed by WHO and its Member States and partners, adding that it is essential for vaccines to be made available equitably wherever needed.
WHO said it is convening an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations -IHR to assess whether the outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern and added that the global outbreak of the monkeypox has clearly attained an unusual and concerning dimension.
Similarly, in its report, the World Health Organization announced a continuing global decline in reported COVID-19 cases and deaths which it said have both fallen more than 90% from their peaks earlier this year.
Though it said it is a very welcome trend but was quick to add that more than 3 million cases were reported to WHO last week as many countries were said to have reduced surveillance and testing, fearing that the number might have been under-reported.
The WHO report stated that there is no acceptable level of deaths from COVID-19 when there are tools to prevent, detect and treat the virus.
There is no acceptable level of deaths from COVID-19 when we have the tools to prevent, detect and treat this disease.
The report also stated that “It’s now more than two years since WHO and our partners launched the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool or C-TAP.
C-TAP was proposed by former President Carlos Alvarado Quesada of Costa Rica, to promote voluntary mechanisms to share intellectual property, know-how, and data.
However, the licenses we have received are too few, and only from government research institutes. Manufacturers have not contributed to a single license.
This highlights why the world needs a more effective mechanism for sharing licenses in an emergency, and why governments that fund so much research must retain licensing rights for products that are needed in emergency situations.
As I have said many times, the TRIPS waiver was created for use in emergencies. So if not now, then when? I hope countries will come to an agreement on a waiver not just for vaccines, but for diagnostics and therapeutics as well.
As you know, last week the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, or SAGO, published its first report.
All hypotheses must remain on the table until we have evidence that enables us to rule certain hypotheses in or out.
