The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the ongoing “Mpox”(formerly known as monkeypox) outbreak in Africa as a global health emergency.

The organisation announced the official declaration in a media briefing on Wednesday.

“Today, the Emergency Committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Director-General at WHO during a media briefing.

Tedros also shared the Emergency Council’s stance on the status of the outbreak via his X account.

This year, over 14,000 reported virus cases with 524 deaths have been reported, a significant increase in reported cases from the 2023 United Nations reports.

There have been 1,634 cases of ‘mpox’ reported in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The figures reflect more than double the number of national cases seen at the same time last year but significantly lower than those seen in the U.S. CNN reports.

WHO officials previously said the virus could be contained “quite straightforwardly if we do the right things at the right time.”