Mpox: Maximum alert level raised by WHO

The WHO on Thursday raised the maximum alert level for the mpox epidemic (formerly known as monkey pox), which it considers sufficiently under control almost a year after an unprecedented outbreak outside endemic areas.

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The pandemic “no longer represents a public health emergency of international concern”, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced at a press conference, thus following the committee’s recommendation of a WHO emergency.

The announcement comes exactly one week after the WHO raised its highest alert level for Covid.

“Even though the mpox and COVID-19 emergencies are over, the threat of further waves remains for both. Both viruses continue to spread and both continue to kill, Dr. Tedros warned, however.

As of May 2022, the disease is chronically endemic in Europe and the Americas, except for ten countries in Central and West Africa.

The Public Health Emergency of International Concern was declared by the Director-General of WHO on July 23, 2022.

Since then, the pollution curve has experienced a steep decline. Dr Tedros noted that there were “almost 90% fewer cases in the last three months compared to the previous three months”.

So far, about 87,400 cases have been reported in 111 countries, and the disease has claimed 140 lives, according to the latest count, cited by the director-general.

The disease – endemic in some West and Central African countries – is characterized by a rash that appears on the genitals or in the mouth, and may be accompanied by fever, sore throat or pain in the lymph nodes.