On the 14th August 2024, as anticipated by many, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO (Tedros), declared mpox (previously known as monkey pox) a public health emergency of international concern (“PHEIC” pronounced “fake”).
This is the second PHEIC determination in two years relating to mpox – the first was in July 2022 and was declared over in May 2023.
In declaring the PHEIC, Tedros said (emphasis our own): “the emergence of a new clade of mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries are very worrying. On top of outbreaks of the mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.”
But how is a PHEIC determined and will it impact the people of the UK?
How is a PHEIC determined?
A PHEIC is determined pursuant to criteria set out in the IHR. The amended IHR adopted at the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024 are not currently in force and thus do not apply to this most recent PHEIC declaration rather the IHR (2005) is applicable.
The stated purpose and scope of the IHR (2005) are “to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade.”
A PHEIC is a formal determination by the WHO of:
- an unusual or unexpected event;
- that causes a serious public health risk through international spread of disease;
- where there is significant risk of international trade or travel restrictions;
- that requires an international coordinated response.
Responsibility for determining whether an event amounts to a PHEIC resides with the Director General of the WHO (DG) and requires the convening of a committee of “experts” called the IHR Emergency Committee (EC). These experts are selected by the DG from the IHR Expert Roster! The EC advises the DG on whether an event constitutes a PHEIC and, if so, recommends immediate public health measures to be issued, known as “temporary recommendations”. These can include health measures to be implemented by the country where the PHEIC originates and/or by other countries to prevent the international spread of the disease.
It is important to note that the DG has the final determination i.e. they can ignore the recommendation of the EC.
In this instance, the EC was tasked with determining if the event – the “upsurge” of mpox in of Africa – constituted a PHEIC.
In the press conference, which took place a few hours prior to the Tedros’s announcement, the EC Chair – Professor Dimie Ogoina – summarised the thinking of the EC as follows:
- “yes” it represents an “extraordinary” event because: the number of reported cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the highest since the 1970s; children and vulnerable groups are now impacted; emergence of a new strain clade 1b; cases now reported in East Africa; and “resurgence” of cases in South Africa;
- “yes” it does have a public health risk of international spread because: the new clade that’s sexually transmissible has spread to other African countries that never previously had a case of mpox so there is a “risk” it could spread beyond Africa
- “yes” it does require an international coordinated response so that “collectively all parties involved can work to improve surveillance, diagnosis and order public health responses…”
The EC unanimously determined that the IHR criteria were met and advised Tedros that mpox is a PHEIC. Tedros took the advice and declared mpox a PHEIC.
For more on PHIECs under IHR (2005) please see Articles 12, 48, 49 and Annex 2 .
Will it impact the people of the UK?
Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director at UK Health Security Agency, said:
“The risk to the UK population is currently considered low. However, planning is underway to prepare for any cases that we might see in the UK. This includes ensuring that clinicians are aware and able to recognise cases promptly, that rapid testing is available, and that protocols are developed for the safe clinical care of people who have the infection and the prevention of onward transmission.”
We all know how quickly such a position can change because now we recognise the psyop pattern. It is developing right now: first it’s very rare, mild and the risk is low; then someone gives a terrible story of their experience and the fear sets in: then the message is “it isn’t so bad and we shouldn’t worry” whilst the media continue with the fear stories in the background; then it becomes “very likely” that the new more dangerous variant will reach the UK; then a marvellous new jab emerges that is “safe and effective” and, finally, it’s roll up, roll up, roll up your sleeves…
We must not forget the scandal of the Covid “pandemic”: propaganda used against the people to instil fear; establishment of a biomedical security state to keep us “safe”; basic principles of medical ethics ignored; families and friends divided and pitted against each other; the total shut down of open democratic debate and the censoring of dissenting narratives and truth. At the earliest signs of such tactics, we must stand together in resistance. Whether it impacts us is up to us – we must always remember the power of “no”.
“A society which exists in a constant state of emergency cannot be free.”
Giorgio Agamben, Where Are We Now?
