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WHO / HEALTH EMERGENCIES
STORY: WHO / HEALTH EMERGENCIES
TRT: 05:30
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 14 JUN 2022, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, WHO Headquarters, exterior
14 JUNE 2022, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Med shot, podium speakers, press conference
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"The global decline in reported COVID-19 cases and deaths is continuing. Reported cases and deaths have now both fallen more than 90% from their peaks earlier this year. This is a very welcome trend. Still, more than 3 million cases were reported to WHO last week – and because many countries have reduced surveillance and testing, we know this number is under-reported. And 8,737 deaths were reported – 8,737 deaths too many. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to these numbers. There is no acceptable level of deaths from COVID-19 when we have the tools to prevent, detect and treat this disease. Many of us who live in high-income countries have easy access to these tools. We now take them for granted. But for many people around the world, these tools remain scarce commodities."
4. Med shot, podium speakers, press conference
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"WHO is aware that countries are discussing a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights for COVID-19 tools at the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Conference this week. As I have said many times, the TRIPS waiver was created for use in emergencies. So, if not now, then when? I hope countries will come to an agreement on a waiver not just for vaccines, but for diagnostics and therapeutics as well."
6. Med shot, podium speakers, press conference
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"As you know, last week, the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, or SAGO, published its first report. Understanding the origins of SARS-CoV-2 is very important for preventing future epidemics and pandemics. All hypotheses must remain on the table until we have evidence that enables us to rule certain hypotheses in or out. We continue to call on China to collaborate with this process and carry out the studies that SAGO has recommended."
8. Med shot, podium speakers, press conference
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"So far this year, more than 1,600 confirmed cases and almost 1,500 suspected cases of monkeypox have been reported to WHO from 39 countries – including seven countries where monkeypox has been detected for years and 32 newly-affected countries. So far this year, 72 deaths have been reported from previously affected countries. No deaths have been reported so far from the newly-affected countries, although WHO is seeking to verify news reports from Brazil of a monkeypox-related death there. "
10. Med shot, podium speakers, press conference
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"Today, we have also published interim guidance on the use of smallpox vaccines for monkeypox. WHO does not recommend mass vaccination against monkeypox. While smallpox vaccines are expected to provide some protection against monkeypox, there is limited clinical data and limited supply. Any decision about whether to use vaccines should be made jointly by individuals who may be at risk and their health care provider, based on an assessment of risks and benefits, on a case-by-case basis. It’s also essential that vaccines are available equitably wherever needed."
12. Med shot, podium speakers, press conference
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"The global outbreak of monkeypox is clearly unusual and concerning. It’s for that reason that I have decided to convene the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations next week, to assess whether this outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern."
14. Med shot, podium speakers, press conference
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
"As you have been following, this virus, I think it's now clear that there is an unusual situation, meaning even the virus is behaving unusually from how it used to behave in the past. But not only that, it's also affecting more and more countries. And we believe that it needs also some coordinated response because of the geographic spread."
16. Med shot, podium speakers, press conference
The Head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that WHO does not recommend mass vaccination against monkeypox.
Today (14 Jun), briefing journalists in Geneva, Tedros announced that WHO published interim guidance on the use of smallpox vaccines for monkeypox.
“While smallpox vaccines are expected to provide some protection against monkeypox, there is limited clinical data and limited supply,” he said.
He also said, "Any decision about whether to use vaccines should be made jointly by individuals who may be at risk and their health care provider, based on an assessment of risks and benefits, on a case-by-case basis. It’s also essential that vaccines are available equitably wherever needed."
This year, more than 1,600 confirmed cases and almost 1,500 suspected cases of monkeypox have been reported to WHO from 39 countries – including seven countries where monkeypox has been detected for years and 32 newly-affected countries. 72 deaths have been reported from previously affected countries.
No deaths have been reported so far from the newly-affected countries, although WHO is seeking to verify news reports from Brazil of a monkeypox-related death there.
WHO’s chief said that the global outbreak of monkeypox is “clearly unusual and concerning.”
For this reason, Tedros decided to convene the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations next week “to assess whether this outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.”
On COVID-19, Tedros said that the global decline in reported cases and deaths is continuing.
Reported cases and deaths have now both fallen more than 90% from their peaks earlier this year.
“This is a very welcome trend,” he commented.
“Still, more than 3 million cases were reported to WHO last week – and because many countries have reduced surveillance and testing, we know this number is under-reported. And 8,737 deaths were reported – 8,737 deaths too many,” he added.
Tedros said, “We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to these numbers. There is no acceptable level of deaths from COVID-19 when we have the tools to prevent, detect and treat this disease. Many of us who live in high-income countries have easy access to these tools. We now take them for granted. But for many people around the world, these tools remain scarce commodities."
He also said that WHO is aware that countries are discussing a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights for COVID-19 tools at the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Conference this week.
He stressed, “the TRIPS waiver was created for use in emergencies. So, if not now, then when? I hope countries will come to an agreement on a waiver not just for vaccines, but for diagnostics and therapeutics as well."
Last week the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, or SAGO, published its first report.
“Understanding the origins of SARS-CoV-2 is very important for preventing future epidemics and pandemics. All hypotheses must remain on the table until we have evidence that enables us to rule certain hypotheses in or out,” Tedros said.
Tedros also called on China “to collaborate with this process and carry out the studies that SAGO has recommended.”
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