The World Health Organisation on Wednesday declared the spread of the monkeypox epidemic in several African countries to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the second such declaration in the past two years to tackle the spread of the virus. "It is clear that a coordinated international response is critical to stopping this epidemic and saving lives," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general. A similar statement was issued on Tuesday by the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.