The World Health Organization (WHO) issued its first situation report on the spread of the virus on Thursday, and is considering again whether to declare the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, which they decided against in late June.  

Global monkeypox case numbers have tripled since June 27th, with two deaths from the virus reported in the Central African Republic.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says he is concerned with the scale and spread of the virus, with 6,000 cases now recorded in 58 countries. 

 Monkeypox is a virus similar to smallpox and most commonly spreads from person to person through infectious bodily fluids.  

Some cities like Washington, D.C. and Montreal, Canada have begun monkeypox vaccination campaigns.

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