The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Monday welcomed the World Health Organization's classification of monkeypox as a global public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

The WHO Director-General Dr TEdros Adhanom on Saturday announced the declaration and called for a multi-sectoral approach against the disease.

So far, more than 16,000 cases have been reported from 75 countries and territories globally, with five deaths.

Of these countries, 11 are African states accounting for approximately 12 percent of all reported cases with the highest case fatality rate globally.

According to the WHO, the risk of monkeypox is moderate globally and in all regions, except in the European region where the risk is high.