The World Health Organisation has declared the spread of Monkeypox a “public health emergency of international concern,” a designation the WHO currently uses to describe only two other diseases, Covid-19 and polio.

Monkeypox has spread to dozens of countries and infected tens of thousands of people in just a few weeks.

Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday overruled a panel of advisers, who could not come to a consensus, and declared it a public health emergency.

“We have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly through new modes of transmission, about which we understand too little, and which meets the criteria” for a public health emergency, Dr. Tedros told reporters.

There have been more than 16,000 cases in 75 countries, overwhelmingly among men who have sex with men, But Dr. Tedros has warned against stigma and discrimination.

Though the outbreak is heavily concentrated in Europe, five deaths have been reported in African nations.

🚨 BREAKING:
"For all of these reasons, I have decided that the global #monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern."-@DrTedros pic.twitter.com/qvmYX1ZBAL

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 23, 2022

With the tools we have right now, we can stop #monkeypox transmission and bring this outbreak under control. It’s essential that all countries work closely with affected communities to adopt measures that protect their health, human rights and dignity.pic.twitter.com/DqyvRtB8w2

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) July 23, 2022