May 12, 2023

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that the multi-country outbreak of the mpox virus, which began around a year ago is no longer a public health emergency of international concern.

WHO Director General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said this while speaking to journalists in Geneva on Thursday, a day after the emergency committee which made the emergency recommendation last July, advised the Director-General to declare it over.

The WHO Region of Africa reported that more than 1500 cases were confirmed since January 2022 in 13 countries, with the majority of these cases being reported from Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

There was little information on modes of transmission and the quality of reported data through the surveillance systems was uneven in the African Region.

“However, as with COVID-19, that does not mean that the work is over. Mpox continues to pose significant public health challenges that need a robust, proactive and sustainable response,” Ghebreyesus said.

He said there had been more than 87,000 cases, and 140 deaths worldwide reported to WHO, from 111 different countries.

The virus, originally known as Monkey Pox, spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and causes flu-like symptoms, and also pus-filled lesions on the skin.

Last July, it was spreading rapidly, but he said WHO “has been very encouraged by the rapid response of countries. We now see steady progress in controlling the outbreak based on the lessons of HIV and working closely with the most affected communities.”

Some 90 per cent fewer cases were reported in the past three months, compared with the previous three.

From the beginning of the international outbreak of the disease, which has been in circulation since 1970, and occurred primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa, WHO stressed that most of those infected, recover without treatment in just a few weeks.

He praised the work of community groups, and public health authorities.

“For informing people of the risks of mpox, encouraging and supporting behaviour change, and advocating for access to tests, vaccines and treatments to be accessible to those in need.’’

Cases of the virus were concentrated among men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple sexual partners.

Ghebreyesus noted that while stigma has been a driving concern in managing the mpox epidemic, and continues to hamper access to care, “the feared backlash against the most affected communities has largely not materialised. For that, we are thankful.”

He said inspite of the downward trend in cases, the virus was continuing to impact all regions, including Africa, where transmission “is still not well understood.”

There is a particular risk associated with those living with untreated HIV infections, he added, urging countries to keep testing capacity and be ready to respond promptly if cases rise again.

“Integration of mpox prevention and care into existing health programmes is recommended, to allow continued access to care, and rapid response to address future outbreaks.”

WHO will continue to work towards supporting access to countermeasures as more information on effectiveness of interventions becomes available.

“While the emergencies of mpox and COVID-19 are both over, the threat of resurgent waves remain for both,” Ghebreyesus said.

“Both viruses continue to circulate, and both continue to kill.

And while two public health emergencies have ended in the past week, every day WHO continue to respond to more than 50 emergencies globally.”

Ghebreyesus said that as the UN approached the upcoming World Health Assembly and three-level meetings on pandemic preparedness, tuberculosis and universal health coverage, there were many challenges ahead, but also unprecedented opportunities.

“If real commitments can be made, then real benefits could result, “for generations to come.”

Each meeting will be an opportunity to catalyse political commitment to drive progress, and to generate concrete action and financial resources.

“To invest in expanding access to prevention, testing, treatment, vaccines and research for TB.

“To strengthen the world’s defences against pandemics; and to strengthen health systems, especially primary healthcare, so that no one misses out on the care they need because of who they are, where they live or how much they earn,” Ghebreyesus said. 

In his opening remarks, the WHO Director-General welcomed the Committee, and noted a sustained decline in cases globally, with almost 90% fewer cases reported in the last three months, compared with the previous three months.

The Director-General also noted that, while there is a downward trend globally, the virus continues to transmit in certain communities.

He further stressed the importance for countries to maintain their surveillance and response capacities, and to continue to integrate mpox prevention and care into existing national health programmes to address future outbreaks.

Representatives of Japan, Nigeria and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland provided updates on the current epidemiological situation in their countries and on the public health measures being implemented.