March 27, 2023 – With total cases past 90 thousand in this outbreak Mpox is still a public health emergency of international concern according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The organisation has elected not to remove the designation from the disease which spread across the globe late 2022 in an unprecedented outbreak.
Despite acknowledging that most of the over 110 affected countries had cured their outbreaks and brought cases under control Technical lead for Mpox, formerly Monkey Pox, and the WHO Rosamund Lewis said there were still areas of concern mainly the Americas.
Over thirty countries are still reporting cases with the bulk coming from Central and Latin America and a few still occurring in Europe and Africa. Once again the WHO is warning men who have sex with men to take precautions against the disease as they are most at risk.
Regardless Lewis says everyone should remain cautious especially in the coming spring and summer seasons where activities, outdoor concerts and more may increase, increasing risk.