The Head of the World Health Organisation has declared the monkeypox outbreak "a global health emergency", the organisation's highest alert level.
According to the WHO, the outbreak is expanding in more than 70 countries and is an "extraordinary" situation which now constitutes a global emergency.
WHO's Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "I have decided that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern."
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There have now been more than 14,000 cases reported, and five deaths, from 71 WHO member states. There have been 69 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in Ireland up until July 16.
Of the new cases reported in Ireland, nine have been hospitalised, two were admitted for clinical care related to Monkeypox infection, three were admitted for isolation purposes only, and information on the reason for admission for the other four cases is yet to be confirmed.
Monkeypox spreads through close contact and the risk of spread within the community is generally low. Symptoms include muscle aches, fever, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a rash with blisters.
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