The monkeypox disease outbreak has now affected more than 70 countries at an unprecedented rate, qualifying it to become a global health emergency, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) chief. The unusual move could spur more efforts in developing treatments for the once-rare disease and increase the demand for the scarce vaccines.
A day after the declaration, US top physician and the White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said that monkeypox could be contained in the country.
This photograph taken on March 5, 2021 shows the flag of the World Health Organization (WHO) at their headquarters in Geneva amid the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak.
What the Global Health Emergency Status Mean
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced its emergency status Saturday after the expert committee could not reach a consensus on whether to apply the highest alert level to the monkeypox virus.
He said that he acted as a tiebreaker in the decision-making of the UN health agency. His decision was deemed historical as it was the first time a WHO chief made such a decision unilaterally without the recommendation of an expert.
Jha told CBS News that the US government is considering that status but has not reached it yet. They are still studying to label it a public health emergency that the Health and Human Services Department might invoke. But for now, they are still monitoring the status and weighing their options.
The WHO label "Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)" is used to trigger a coordinated international response that will hopefully open the doors for more funding to collaborate sharing on vaccines and treatments.
Although it is considered the highest alert level, it does not necessarily mean a disease is highly transmissible or lethal. WHO has also declared the same alert in the past, such as the Zika virus that spread in 2016 across Latin American nations, the polio outbreak, COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
The WHO chief believes the monkeypox virus could spread further than current nations. That means the disease outbreak could be spread through new modes of transmission that experts have not fully understood yet, USA Today reported.
However, some experts argue that the monkeypox disease is not severe enough to warrant such a label, citing that people recover without medical attention.
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How to Avoid Getting Infected with Monkeypox Virus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises people to exercise caution in close contact situations where maintaining a personal space is impractical as the virus can spread through skin-to-skin contact. For example, crowded raves and clubs pose a high risk of getting infected as clothing is minimal and there is a high chance of contact.
Moreover, CDC recommends cleaning bedding, clothes, and towels because they could harbor the monkeypox virus. Make sure to regularly wash hands with soap and water when cleaning and dispose of all materials after.
Another way to avoid getting infected is to stay updated with the spread of the virus in one's area. Check the CDC map, which has the record of monkeypox cases in every state, and also follow state and local health department alerts.
CDC reminded the public that the virus is not a sexually transmitted infection, even though some studies found traces of DNA of the virus in semen. Sexually active people should be honest with their partners if they have been exposed to an infected individual. They also advise pregnant women to give birth via C-section to mitigate the risk of transmitting the virus to their newborns.
RELATED ARTICLE: Monkeypox DNA Found in Semen of Some Patients Strongly Favors Sexual Transmission Hypothesis, Study Says
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