Monkeypox no longer a global health emergency: WHO
Monkeypox infection: Almost a year after monkeypox started spreading across the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared that the infection no longer constitutes a global health emergency.
Following a drop in case counts, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in an online press conference that he was "pleased to declare" that he had accepted the recommendation of the UN agency's emergency committee on mpox to lift the highest level of alert.
Following a tense meeting this week, WHO's emergency committee for mpox suggested that the emergency be declared over, and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus agreed.
“Yesterday, the emergency committee for mpox met and recommended to me that the multi-country outbreak of mpox no longer represents a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice and I’m pleased to declare that the mpox is no longer a global health emergency,” Tedros said, adding “However, as with Covid-19, that does not mean that the work is over. Mpox continues to pose significant public health challenges that need a robust, proactive and sustainable response.”
The director-general advised countries to retain testing capacity and the ability to respond rapidly to any outbreaks.
The World Health Organisation declared mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, a global health emergency in July 2022, recognising it as an exceptional occurrence that may pose a threat to other countries and demand a collaborative global response.
- PTC NEWS
