The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
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”.
-ends-
1. Medium shot, UN Geneva flag alley.
2. Wide shot, press room with journalists
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.
11. Medium shot, journalists listening.
12. Medium shot, journalists taking notes.
13. Wide shot, journalists, TV camera on tripod and light panel.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News , B-roll | OCHA
Gaza: ‘Worst-case scenario’ unfolds as two-month aid blockade deepens suffering - OCHA
Two months into a devastating aid blockade of Gaza food has run out and people are fighting over water amid relentless bombing, the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Friday.
/Includes OCHA footage from Gaza City/
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA
Children in Gaza are going to bed starving, says aid agency
The biggest UN aid agency in Gaza on Tuesday condemned the two-month Israeli blockade on Gaza that has left families sharing a single tin of food at mealtime and the sick and injured without lifesaving medical help, amid daily bombardment.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR
Ongoing Russian attacks in Ukraine force frontline areas to empty: UNHCR
With Ukrainian cities still reeling from this week’s deadly Russian missile and drone attacks, communities on the front line continue to be targeted too, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. “We also see attacks on frontline regions increasing and it's, as always, civilians that are bearing the highest cost of the war,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
Funding and supply shortfalls for the UN World Food Programme (WFP)'s work in Ethiopia will halt lifesaving treatment for 650,000 malnourished women and children at the end of the month. “We are at the breaking point,” it said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue to kill and injure civilians, and destroy civilian infrastructure, raising concerns regarding the protection of civilians, the UN Human Rights Office warned today.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM , UNWOMEN , UNDP
Sudan: Aid teams report massive displacement after latest Darfur atrocity; women’s bodies ‘turned into battlegrounds’
In Sudan’s North Darfur, tens of thousands of people have fled a displacement camp following the massacre of civilians and aid workers as the country enters the third year of a conflict marked by horrific levels of sexual violence, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | ITC
Global trade could shrink by three per cent as a result of the United States’ new tariff measures which in the longer term could reshape and boost as-yet untapped regional commercial links, a top UN economist confirmed on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Warring parties in Sudan are overseeing a wholesale assault on human rights amid global inaction, the UN Human Rights Office said on Friday, as the conflict is about to enter its third year.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday said Israel’s increasing issuance of so-called “evacuation orders” for Palestinians in Gaza have resulted in their forcible transfer.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR , UNHCR , UNWOMEN , WFP , WHO
Two years of war in Sudan have created epic suffering, aid agencies say
Two years since Sudan’s brutal conflict began, UN agencies warned that famine is spreading and civilians of all ages continue to suffer shocking abuse, including rape and gang rape.
1
1
Edited News | UNMAS
In Gaza, ongoing Israeli military operations and the aid blockade have continued to add to daily fears and hardships confronting those in the devastated enclave, the UN Mine Action Service, UNMAS, said on Wednesday.