By Matik Kueth
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that the ongoing mpox outbreak continues to qualify as a public health emergency.
Speaking at an International Health Regulations framework meeting, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that the current surge in mpox cases still meets the criteria for such a designation.
The health agency is now updating its temporary guidance for member states currently dealing with the outbreak.
These revised recommendations aim to support affected countries in their prevention and response strategies.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was initially discovered in 1958 after a “pox-like” illness was detected in monkeys.
Historically, most human infections were reported in Central and West Africa, primarily linked to close contact with infected animals.
However, in 2022, the virus was confirmed to spread through sexual contact for the first time, resulting in outbreaks in over 70 countries that had not previously seen cases.
In Africa, recent infections have been documented in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi.