Monkeypox: WHO lifts its maximum alert level

The WHO on Thursday lifted its maximum alert level for the mpox epidemic (formerly called monkeypox), deeming it sufficiently under control almost a year after the start of its outbreak.

This epidemic “no longer represents a public health emergency of international concern”, declared during a press conference the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, thus following the recommendation of the committee. WHO emergency.

This announcement comes exactly one week after the lifting of the WHO's highest level of alert for Covid. “While the mpox and Covid-19 emergencies are over, the threat of further waves remains for both. Both viruses continue to circulate and both continue to kill”, however warned Dr Tedros.

Outbreaks of mpox had been observed, from May 2022, in Europe and the United States, apart from the ten countries in central and western Africa where the disease has long been endemic. The Public Health Emergency of International Concern was declared on July 23, 2022 by the Director General of the WHO.

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Since then, the contamination curve has experienced a sharp decline. There have thus been “nearly 90% fewer cases in the last three months compared to the previous three months”, noted Dr. Tedros. So far, around 87,400 cases have been recorded 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 rashes, which may appear on the genitals or in the mouth, and may be accompanied by bouts of fever, sore throat or pain in the lymph nodes.