The Ministry of Health of Albania has confirmed that there is no confirmed case of monkeypox in Albania.

A day ago, the WHO declared monkeypox a global public health emergency. Wednesday's decision follows an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighboring countries.

An emergency committee met early on Wednesday (14 August) to advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghenreyesus whether the spread of the disease constitutes a "public health emergency of global scale".

This emergency constitutes the WHO's highest level of alert and aims to accelerate research, financial resources and public health measures and international cooperation to contain a disease.

"It is clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop the spread and save lives," Mr Tedros said.

Monkey pox can be spread through contact. Usually a mild disease, in some cases it can be fatal. Monkey pox causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled blisters on the body. A new variant of smallpox appears to spread more easily through close contact, including intimate relationships. Monkey pox has spread from Congo to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda./RTSH