WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak no Longer a Global Health Emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the mpox outbreak in Africa is no longer considered an international health emergency, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday.

The outbreak, caused by a new form of mpox, first appeared in early 2024 in Congo and surrounding African countries and spreads through close contact, including sexual contact. WHO had previously declared it a global health emergency in August 2024.

Tedros explained that the emergency panel set up to assess the situation advised that the outbreak no longer meets the criteria for an international emergency, advice he has accepted. He stressed, however, that lifting the emergency status does not mean the threat has disappeared or that response efforts will cease.

Mpox, previously called monkeypox, is a rare viral disease related to smallpox. It is endemic in parts of Africa and typically spreads through bites from rodents or small animals. Symptoms range from mild fever, chills, and body aches to severe cases involving lesions on the face, hands, chest, and genitals. The clade II strain caused a global health crisis in 2022, spreading quickly among men who have sex with men, with the U.S. reporting nearly 500 cases per day at its peak.

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