Daijiworld Media Network – Geneva

Geneva, Sep 5: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday announced that Mpox no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, marking a major step in controlling the outbreak.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the decision followed a sustained decline in cases across affected countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

“This decision is based on consistent reductions in infections and the advice of WHO’s Emergency Committee, which reviews the outbreak every three months,” Tedros noted.

The WHO had first declared the highest level of health alert in August 2023, after a new form of Mpox spread rapidly from Congo to neighbouring nations. The viral infection, which spreads through close contact, typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions.

With the emergency now lifted, WHO has urged countries to remain vigilant, strengthen surveillance, and continue awareness campaigns to prevent fresh outbreaks.