The World Health Organization will determine next week if there is a need to declare Monkeypox as an international health emergency or public health emergency of international concern.
The health agency is also planning to change the name of the disease which has been endemic in African nations. More than 1,000 cases were detected in dozens of countries across the world over the last two months.
The WHO said the outbreak outside African nations is concerning.
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“The outbreak of monkeypox is unusual and concerning. For that reason I have decided to convene the Emergency Committee under the international health regulations next week, to assess whether this outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern,” the agency said.
The emergency meeting will be held on June 23 and discuss the designation of the disease.
“WHO is also working with partners and experts from around the world on changing the name of monkeypox virus… and the disease it causes. We will make announcements about the new names as soon as possible,” the UN health agency said.
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“In the context of the current global outbreak, continued reference to, and nomenclature of this virus being African is not only inaccurate but is also discriminatory and stigmatizing,” they added.
Some 1,600 confirmed monkeypox cases and 1,500 suspected cases have been reported to the WHO this year from 39 countries, 32 of which have been recently hit by the virus.
