The World Health Organization (WHO) is convening its Expert Committee on Monkeypox on Thursday to determine whether the current outbreak of cases constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, its highest level of alert, according to its Director Tedros Adhanom.

The emergency committee will assess epidemiological indicators as the situation has worsened in recent weeks, with more than 14,500 cases now reported in 70 countries, according to US CDC figures.