OUR World Health Organization announced today the end of a global health emergency that has lasted almost a year due to monkeypox, a viral disease with confirmed cases in more than 100 countries.

In July 2022, the Agency declared monkeypox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and extended the measure in November and February.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the end of the emergency measure for this disease based on the recommendation of the competent committee of the Organization, which met yesterday Wednesday.

The move signals that the crisis caused by monkeypox (mpox), which is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids and causes flu-like symptoms and purulent skin lesions, is under control.

Over the past three months, there have been almost 90% fewer cases of smallpox compared with cases that were recorded in the same period before this period, the head of WHO emphasized.

From the beginning of 2022 to May 8 this year, more than 87,000 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed worldwide, according to the latest WHO count.

After three years and three months of the Sars-CoV2 pandemic, the WHO also raised the highest health alert level for the novel coronavirus on May 5, declaring the end of the Covid-19 public health emergency.

“While the monkeypox and Covid-19 emergencies are over, the threat of resurgent waves of both viruses remains. Both viruses continue to circulate and both continue to kill,” Tedros said.

Source: APE/MEB