Weighing in on monkeypox against the criteria of public health emergency

Abstract

The monkeypox, a viral zoonotic disease usually found in forest areas of Central and Western Africa, has spread worldwide through new modes of transmission little understood. The WHO on 23 July 2022, declared the virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).The declaration has stirred criticism from leading scientists that the criteria for PHEIC as defined by International Health Regulation have not been met and it is non-transparent and contradictory. This paper reviews the criteria of PHEIC and weighs the rationales behind the declaration to increase the clarity of the WHO's decision, justifications, and legitimacy in the ongoing outbreak.