Source: WHO

Despite a decline in cases, the World Health Organization has stated that mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, continues to be an international health emergency.

Mpox is an illness caused by the mpox virus. It is a viral zoonotic infection, meaning that it can spread from animals to humans. It can also spread from humans to other humans and from the environment to humans.

The disease was initially identified in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. Since then, it has largely only spread among humans in a few countries in West and Central Africa.

But, cases of the illness, which includes fever, muscle aches, and big boil-like skin lesions, started to spread quickly over the world in May of last year.

The WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on July 23, 2022. (PHEIC). Every three months, the WHO’s emergency committee on mpox meets to decide if the label is still accurate. The committee has recognized the advancements made in stopping the spread of the diseases.

Nonetheless, more than 30 countries are still reporting instances, and not all cases may have been found and reported in some places, all countries should continue to exercise caution.

According to WHO data, 93 fatalities have been reported among the 85,860 instances of the disease that have been reported so far across 110 countries.