WHO declares monkeypox a global emergency amid surge in cases

The WHO label could unlock funding and global efforts to collaborate on sharing vaccines and treatments [File: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the monkeypox outbreak in more than 70 countries an “emergency of international concern”.

The WHO label – a “public health emergency of international concern” – is designed to sound an alarm that a coordinated international response is needed and could unlock funding and global efforts to collaborate on sharing vaccines and treatments.