The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that it is ending a global health emergency – a measure that lasted for almost a year – for monkeypox, a viral disease whose cases have been confirmed in more than a hundred countries.

The Agency declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern in July 2022 and extended the measure in November and February.

The director-general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared the end of the emergency measure for this disease, based on the recommendation of the competent committee of the Organization, which met yesterday Wednesday.

The move signals that the crisis caused by monkeypox (mpox), which spreads through direct contact with body fluids and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions, has been brought under control.

Almost 90% fewer cases of mpox were recorded in the last three months, compared to the cases that had been recorded in the same period before this period, the head of the WHO emphasized.

More than 87,000 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed worldwide from early 2022 to May 8 this year, according to the latest WHO tally.

After three years and three months of a pandemic linked to the Sars-CoV2 virus, the WHO also on May 5 lifted its highest level of health alert for the novel coronavirus, declaring the end of the public health emergency for the Covid-19.

“While the monkeypox and Covid-19 emergencies have ended, the threat of resurgent waves of both viruses remains. Both viruses continue to circulate and both continue to kill,” Tedros said.