The World Health Organization (WHO) held an emergency meeting Thursday over the worldwide spread of monkeypox.The health agency is considering whether to declare the outbreak a global health emergency.But critics say the WHO is only deciding to act because the disease has spread to the West from Africa.The declaration means the WHO considers the monkeypox outbreak to be an “extraordinary event” and that the disease is at risk of spreading to more countries.Many scientists doubt any declaration would help slow the disease.Developed countries recording the most recent cases are already moving quickly to shut down the spread.Last week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the recent spread of monkeypox “unusual and concerning.”It has been identified in more than 40 countries, mostly in Europe.Monkeypox has sickened people for many years in central and west Africa, where one version of the disease there kills up to 10 percent of people.Outside of Africa, no deaths have been reported.Oyewale Tomori is a Nigerian virologist who advises several WHO groups.
