WHO declares Monkeypox as a global health emergency, but what does it mean for Malaysians?

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the Monkeypox outbreak is now a public health emergency of international concern. The Malaysian health ministry (KKM) also put out a statement regarding the issue, so what does “global health emergency” mean and what does it mean for Malaysians?

“KKM would like to inform that, on 21 July, International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee had a second meeting regarding Monkeypox around the world. The meeting was also presented by the WHO Director-General, where he informed that Monkeypox is now a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC),” wrote KKM in its press release.

During WHO’s second meeting regarding Monkeypox, WHO committee members were unable to reach a consensus regarding advice to the WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on whether the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox should or should not be determined a PHEIC.

But on 24 July, Ghebreyesus posted on Twitter to officially announce that Monkeypox is a “public health emergency“. He also noted that with the “tools we have”, they can “stop monkeypox transmission and bring this outbreak under control”.

What’s a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)?

A Public Health Emergency of International Concern, or PHEIC (apparently pronounced like “feek“), is a formal declaration by the WHO of “an extraordinary event determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response”. It is formulated when a situation arises that is “serious, sudden, unusual, or unexpected”.

There were six PHEIC declarations between 2009 and 2020. They include the 2009 H1N1 (or swine flu) pandemic, the 2014 polio declaration, the 2013–2016 outbreak of Ebola in Western Africa, the 2015–2016 Zika virus epidemic,^[6] the 2018–2020 Kivu Ebola epidemic, and—of course—the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR), states have a “legal duty to respond promptly to a PHEIC”. According to WHO, the purpose and scope of these regulations is to prevent, protect against, control, and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are proportional and restricted to public health risks.

“It’s essential that all countries work closely with affected communities to adopt measures that protect their health, human rights and dignity,” said Ghebreyesus.

How is Malaysia responded to the PHEIC?

According to KKM, they will be doing these things as a response to the Monkeypox-related PHEIC:

1. Informed private and public medical facilities to notify them if there are signs of Monkeypox in cases, and to make sure measures are taken to keep safe like to find contact cases
2. Bring in sentinel surveillance to several private and public clinics
3. Hike up research facility capacities to do tests on the Monkeypox virus
4. Hike up surveillance at international doors (airports, etc)
5. Work with MKN, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MOTAC, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Higher Education, NGOs, and others

Those who have arrived Malaysia from countries with reported Monkeypox cases are advised to monitor their health status for 21 days. The symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin, back pain and aches, as well as a maculopapular rashes on the face, hands, and feet.

KKM reported that from May 1 until July 23, a total of 531,360 travelers arrived from countries with monkeypox cases and the MySejahtera application has issued the Monkeypox Health Alert to them. However, as of 23 July 2022, there have been 9 reported “suspected” cases of Monkeypox—but they all have been negative cases.

[ SOURCE, IMAGE SOURCE ]