WHO calls emergency meeting on mpox spread

The World Health Organization's chief Tedros announced on Wednesday he was urgently convening an expert committee to advice on whether the growing mpox outbreak in Africa should be declared an international emergency.

Since last September, cases have surged in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to a strain of the virus which has now been detected in nearby African countries. The designation is the UN agency’s highest level of alert. Since last September, cases have surged in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to a strain of the virus which has now been detected in nearby African countries.