WHO says 'no need to close borders' as mpox spreads beyond Africa

Officials at the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Friday (August 16) advised against any travel restrictions to stop the spread of mpox, after the first cases of the disease were detected this week outside Africa. The WHO's Margaret Harris said focus should be on protecting the most vulnerable, while IFRC's Bronwyn Nichol said closing borders was ineffective.