ETIDIOH - NEW

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) is hereby transmitting the report of the third meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee (Committee) regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024, held on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, from 12:00 to 17:00 CET . Concurring with the advice unanimously expressed by the Committee during the meeting, the WHO Director-General determined that the upsurge of mpox 2024 continues to meet the criteria of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and, accordingly, on 27 February 2025, issued temporary recommendations to States Parties. The WHO Director-General expresses his most sincere gratitude to the Chair, Members, and Advisors of the Committee. Proceedings of the meeting Sixteen (16) Members of, and two Advisors to, the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee (Committee) were convened by teleconference, via Zoom, on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, from 12:00 to 17:00 CET...

{Excerpts} The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), following the third meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024, held on 25 February 2025, from 12:00 to 17:00 CET, concurs with its advice that the event continues to meet the criteria of a public health emergency of international concern and, considering the advice of the Committee, he is hereby issuing a revised set of temporary recommendations. The WHO Director-General expresses his most sincere gratitude to the Chair, Members, and Advisors of the Committee. The proceeding of the third meeting of the Committee will be shared with States Parties to the IHR and published in the coming days. --------- Temporary recommendations These temporary recommendations are issued to States Parties experiencing the transmission of monkeypox virus (MPXV), including, but not limited to, those where there is sustained community transmission, and where there ...

 {Excerpt} The outbreak of an undiagnosed disease in DR Congo, reported by WHO on Dec 8, 2024,1 is a pressing global health concern that demands swift and coordinated action. As of Dec 5, 406 cases and 31 deaths have been reported in the Panzi health zone in Kwango province, with influenza-like symptoms and anaemia. Most affected individuals are children aged younger than 5 years , many of whom are severely malnourished . The remoteness of the region and poor infrastructure complicate the identification of the pathogen, with suspicions that multiple diseases could be contributing to these cases . Furthermore, the outbreak has the potential to transcend regional boundaries, particularly as DR Congo shares porous borders with Angola , where provinces such as Uige are vulnerable to cross-border transmission. Mobility between these regions could facilitate the spread of the disease to neighbouring African countries, raising the potential for a Public Health Emergency of International C...