The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Sunday, August 4, that he was considering convening a committee of experts to determine whether to declare the outbreak of mpox, also known as “monkey pox”underway in several African countries. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the UN agency and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, among others, were increasing their efforts to interrupt transmission of the virus.

“But more funding and support is needed for a comprehensive response.”he said on the social network X. “I am considering convening an emergency committee on international health regulations to advise me on whether the mpox outbreak should be declared a public health emergency of international concern.”he continued. This qualification is the highest alert that the WHO can trigger, and it is the head of the WHO who can launch it on the advice of the committee.