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In the last three months, positive cases have been reduced by 90 percent worldwide.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced Thursday that mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is no longer a global health emergency.
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"Yesterday, the monkeypox emergency committee met and recommended to me that the global outbreak of monkeypox no longer represents a public health emergency of international concern," Tedros told a press conference.
According to the WHO chief, there has been a steep decline in mpox over the last three months, with countries reporting 90 percent fewer cases than in the previous three-month period.
"While we welcome the downward trend in mpox cases globally, the virus continues to affect communities in all regions, including Africa," the Director-General said.
The Emergency Committee on #mpox met for the fifth time yesterday, advising @DrTedros that the multi-country outbreak is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 11, 2023
⏩The WHO Director-General accepted the Committee’s advice. Full Statement:… pic.twitter.com/kGzbQf2r3v
Tedros warned that the decision "does not mean it has ceased to be a public health challenge" worldwide. He urged countries around the world to maintain their testing capabilities and efforts to respond to outbreaks.
"Although the mpox and Covid-19 emergencies have ended, the threat of resurgent waves remains for both. Both viruses continue to circulate and both continue to kill," Tedros said.
WHO declared the mpox outbreak a global emergency last July. According to the agency, more than 87 000 cases and 140 deaths have been reported in 111 countries during the global outbreak.
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