Countries need to work more together to stop the rapidly spreading outbreak of monkeypox, no matter the nationality, skin color or religion of the affected population, a high-level official of the World Health Organization (WHO) told the media today at a press briefing at the United Nations in Geneva.

Speaking via Zoom from Dakar, Senegal, Dr Ibrahima Soce FALL, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Emergencies said that “we have been working on monkeypox in Africa for several years, but nobody was interested”. He added that “this is what’s unfortunately called a ‘neglected tropical disease.’ We worked a lot on that with very few resources and it was needed that the northern countries are getting affected by this disease for the world to react. It was the same with the Zika virus and we have to stop this discrimination”.

On 23 July, the WHO has declared the spread of the virus to be a public health emergency of international concern, the organization’s highest level of alert.  Through this, WHO aims to enhance coordination, cooperation of countries and all stakeholders, as well as global solidarity.

According to WHO’s Dr. Fall, “the world must be involved to protect these populations, no matter their nationality, their skin color, or their religion, etc.  I think it is extremely important and now that more than 70 countries are affected in the world, everyone is getting active”.

Until this year, the virus which causes Monkeypox has rarely spread outside Africa where it is endemic. But reports of a handful of cases in Britain in early May signaled that the outbreak had moved into Europe.

“It is important, and we have already been doing so, to accelerate the research and development agenda on monkeypox so that the most affected African countries can have the resources to prevent and fight against monkeypox”, said Dr. Fall.

A vaccine was approved in 2019 for the prevention of monkeypox, however availability remains limited at the moment.

“We have had many cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Cameroon, and some sporadic cases in countries such as Ghana, Benin etc. “, Dr. Fall said. “I think it is time that the world invests so that these populations that are living in rural areas and in forest areas, can be protected”.

According to WHO’s Dr. Fall, “if we only treat what is happening in Europe and America, we will only treat the symptoms of monkeypox, but not the real disease.  It is important that the world gets mobilised to this kind of disease”.

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1. Medium shot, UN Geneva flag alley.

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3. SOUNDBITE (French) Dr Ibrahima Soce FALL (Zoom from Dakar, Senegal), WHO Assistant Director-General for Emergencies : “Nous avons travaillé sur la variole du singe en Afrique pendant plusieures années. Ça n’a intéressé personne. C’était comme ce qu’on appelle malheureusement les maladies tropicales négligées.  Nous avons beaucoup travaillé sur ça avec très peu de moyens et il a fallu que les pays du Nord soient touchés par cette maladie pour qu’on voit le monde réagir. C’était la même chose avec le virus Zika et nous devons arrêter cette discrimination.’’

(English translation) We have been working on monkeypox in Africa for several years. Nobody was interested. It is what is unfortunately called 'neglected tropical diseases.'  We worked a lot on that with very few resources and it was needed that the northern countries are being affected by this disease for the world to react. It was the same with the Zika virus and we have to stop this discrimination.

4. Wide shot, press room, journalists and UN staff listening

5. SOUNDBITE (French) Dr Ibrahima Soce FALL (Zoom from Dakar, Senegal), WHO Assistant Director-General for Emergencies : “Le monde doit s’investir pour protéger ces populations quelles que soient leurs nationalités, quelle que soit la couleur de leurs peaux, quelles que soient leurs religions etc.  Je pense que c’est extrêmement important et maintenant que plus de 70 pays sont touchés dans le monde, tout le monde se mobilise.’’

(English translation) The world must be involved to protect these populations, no matter their nationality, their skin color, or their religion, etc.  I think it is extremely important and now that more than 70 countries are affected in the world, everyone is getting active.

6. Medium shot, TV screen showing speakers, UN logo backdrop panel

7. SOUNDBITE (French) Dr Ibrahima Soce FALL (Zoom from Dakar, Senegal), WHO Assistant Director-General for Emergencies : “Il est important donc - et nous le faisons déjà - d’accélérer l’agenda des recherches de développement sur la variole du singe pour que les pays africains les plus touchés puissent avoir les moyens de prévenir et lutter contre la variole du singe.’’

(English translation) It is important, and we have already been doing so, to accelerate the research and development agenda on monkeypox so that the most affected African countries can have the resources to prevent and fight against monkeypox.

8. Close up, laptop screen showing the speaker. Podium in the rear.

9. SOUNDBITE (French) Dr Ibrahima Soce FALL (Zoom from Dakar, Senegal), WHO Assistant Director-General for Emergencies : “Nous avons eu beaucoup de cas dans la République démocratique du Congo, au Nigeria, en République Centrafricaine, au Cameroun, des cas sporadique dans d’autres pays tels que le Ghana, le Bénin etc.  Je pense qu’il est temps que le monde s’investisse pour ces populations qui sont dans des zones rurales, dans les zones forestières qu’on les fait plus protéger. Parce que si nous traitons seulement ce qui se passe en Europe et en Amérique, nous ne traitons que les symptômes de la variole du singe et pas la vraie maladie.  C’est important que le monde se mobilise pour ce genre de maladie.’’ (English translation) We have had many cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Cameroon, and some sporadic cases in countries such as Ghana, Benin etc.  I think it is time that the world invests so that these populations that are living in rural areas and in forest areas, can be protected. If we only treat what is happening in Europe and America, we will treat only the symptoms of monkeypox, but not the real disease.  It is important that the world gets mobilised to this kind of disease.

10. Close-up, journalist listening.

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