WHO maintains its stance; public health emergency alert for mpox to continue

The World Health Organization on Wednesday said that despite a dip in the number of cases, it still considers mpox, previously known as monkeypox, an international health emergency. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as per AFP, reached thisconclusion following the recommendations of the UN health agency's emergency committee. The committee met last Friday.

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Speaking to the press, Tedros said, "The committee has advised me that in its view, mpox remains a global health emergency, and I have accepted that advice."

Officials noticed a surge in what was earlier known as monkeypox infections last May. The surgeoutside African countries where the infection has long been an endemic was noticedamong men who have sex with men.To date, 85,860 cases have been reported from 110 countries.

The disease was first spotted in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo region. Since then,the disease spread among humans but has, for the most part, been limited to certain West and Central African nations.

However, last May, cases of the disease began spreading rapidly around the world. Following the sudden influx of cases,the WHO onJuly 23, 2022, triggered a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

Since then, the WHO's emergency committee on mpox meets every three months to determine the validity of the saidlabel. As per Tedros, while thecommittee acknowledged the progress made in reducing transmission of the diseases, 30 nations are still reporting cases. He also pointed out that in some of the regions,not all cases might have been detected and reported. Due to this, he said allcountries should remain vigilant.

(With inputs from agencies)

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