2023-05-10 12:10:00
The outbreak of the viral disease Mpox (formerly: monkeypox) in more than 100 countries is largely under control. Experts therefore discussed in Geneva on Wednesday whether the situation still justifies the declaration of an international health emergency.
They belong to the Mpox emergency committee, which the World Health Organization (WHO) convened for the first time in June 2022. The committee advises the WHO. Everything initially indicated that the result of the deliberations would be published on Thursday at the earliest. Just last Friday, the WHO lifted the health emergency due to the corona pandemic following more than three years.
The public health emergency is the highest level of alert that the WHO can impose. But neither their proclamation nor their repeal have concrete consequences. The WHO decision is intended to alert governments to take the necessary protective measures. Governments decide for themselves whether they follow this and what they order. Officially, the health emergency is called a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC – public health emergency of international concern).
The spread of Mpox over the past year has led to major fears of a new global health threat. Until then, the disease was only known from a few African countries. Then, in the spring, evidence suddenly piled up in numerous countries.
From the beginning of 2022 to May 9, 2023, a good 87,000 cases of Mpox infections and 140 deaths from 111 countries were reported to the WHO. Because there are few test options in many places and not everyone affected reports, the global spread is likely to have started earlier and the true number of infections is higher. Mpox are transmitted through close physical contact and lead, among other things, to blisters and pustules on the skin.
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