On Thursday, the World Health Organization declared the end of the global health emergency for smallpox after 10 months. This was stated by General Manager Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a press conference after a committee of experts advised on this matter.
“Yesterday, the Mpox Emergency Committee met and informed me that the Mpox outbreak in several countries is no longer a health emergency of international concern. I have accepted this advice and am pleased to announce that Mpox is no longer a global health emergency.”
However, the WHO director-general warned that “just as with Covid-19,” which saw a downgrade in the global health emergency rankings last week, “doesn’t mean the job is done.”
“Mpox continues to pose significant public health challenges that need a robust, proactive and sustained response,” he warned.
“It remains important that countries maintain their testing capacities and continue efforts to assess risks and identify response needs, acting quickly when necessary. It is recommended that smallpox prevention be integrated into existing health programmes, to allow continued access to health care, and rapid response to deal with outbreaks in future,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus advised.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization indicated that he declared a global emergency for smallpox disease in July last year, and that so far, 87,000 cases and 140 deaths have been recorded in 111 countries.
The official highlighted “the work of community organizations, and public health authorities, which has been essential in informing people of the dangers of smallpox, encouraging behavior change and advocating for access to tests, vaccines and treatments for those who need them most.”
“Although stigma has been a core concern in managing this pandemic, and it continues to impede access to health care, the consequences feared in the hardest-hit communities have often not materialized. We are grateful for that,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. .
🚨 break 🚨
“I have accepted that advice and I am pleased to announce it #mpox It is no longer a global health emergency.”@employee https://t.co/MAZi0HgFjq pic.twitter.com/fuBQDwrdhX
– World Health Organization (WHO) (WHO) May 11, 2023
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