WHO declared Monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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WHO declared Monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

Posted 16 Aug 2024

2 min read

Decision came on advice from International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee.

  • Following an Mpox outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and outside Africa, it was declared as global PHEIC for second time in two years.

 About Mpox 

  • Viral illness caused by monkeypox virus, a species of genus Orthopoxvirus.
  • First detected in humans in 1970 in DRC. 
  • Spreads via close contact and tends to cause flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesion.
  • Occurs mostly in central and western Africa, and affected primarily (but not only) gay, bisexual etc.
  • Vaccines and therapeutics developed for smallpox and approved for use in some countries can be used for mpox in some circumstances.

 About PHEIC

  • As per IHR (2005), an outbreak qualifies as a PHEIC if it is unusual or unexpected; it has potential for international spread; and may require an immediate international action.
    • IHR, 2005 is a binding international legal agreement involving 196 countries across globe, including all Member States of WHO.
  • PHEIC represents the highest level of alert issued by WHO under IHR. 
    • Since 2009, WHO has declared seven international public health emergencies, including H1N1 influenza pandemic, polio outbreak, Ebola outbreak (West Africa), Zika epidemic, Ebola outbreak (Congo), COVID-19 and Mpox.
  • Tags :
  • PHEIC
  • International Health Regulations, 2005
  • Monkeypox
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