The disease – which is endemic in some West African countries – is characterized by rashes, which can appear on the genitals or in the mouth, and can be accompanied by bouts of fever, sore throat or pain in the lymph nodes.
From May 2022, health authorities noted outbreaks in Europe and the United States. The mpox emergency committee – like all WHO emergency committees – meets at least every three months to review the situation. The experts noted that since their last meeting in early November progress has been made in reducing the spread of the virus globally and that the number of reported cases worldwide has decreased. But these advances are not enough to let our guard down, according to the WHO. As of February 14, 85,860 cases had been recorded in 110 countries and the disease had claimed 93 lives, according to the WHO.