WHO ends global mpox emergency

GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday that it was ending a 10-month global health emergency for mpox, a viral disease that led to confirmed cases in more than a hundred countries.

Mpox spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, but it has come under control.

Almost 90% fewer mpox cases were reported in the past three months, compared with cases in the same duration before that.

More than 87 000 mpox cases have been confirmed from the beginning of 2022 to May 8 this year.

The WHO also recently declared an end of emergency status for Covid-19. |