By Michelle Roberts
The World Health Organization says the highest level of alert over Mpox has passed, but its director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says countries should 'remain vigilant'. Photo: AFP / Science Photo Library
Monkeypox is no longer a global public health emergency, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said, almost a year after the threat was raised.
The virus was still around and further waves and outbreaks could continue, but the highest level of alert was over, the WHO added.
Monkeypox can be passed on by close contact with someone who is infected and the global health body's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on countries to "remain vigilant".
What is monkeypox?
Its official name is Mpox and it is caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the same family of viruses as smallpox, although it is much less severe.
Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, swellings, back pain, and aching muscles.
Once the fever breaks a rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body - most commonly the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
Anyone with the virus should abstain from sex while they have symptoms, to help prevent passing it on to others.
Vaccines can protect people too.
More than 87,000 cases and 140 deaths have been reported from 111 countries during the global outbreak, according to a WHO count.
But almost 90 percent fewer cases were recorded over the last three months compared with the previous three-month period, meaning the highest level of alert was no longer required, Tedros said.
In the UK, only 10 cases have been reported since the beginning of the year.
The announcement comes just a week after the UN agency also declared the Covid-19 emergency over.
Declaring a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) signals that countries need to work together to manage a shared threat, such as a disease outbreak.
There is now just one WHO-declared PHEIC - for poliovirus, which was declared in May 2014.
Mpox in New Zealand
The first case of Mpox in New Zealand was reported on 9 July, 2022.
As of 12 January, 2023, Te Whatu Ora reported there had been a total of 41 confirmed cases in the country.
Tests for the virus can be carried out at general practices (GPs), sexual health clinics, and after-hours or urgent care clinics.
Then-Associate Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall said in a statement earlier this year that an mpox vaccine for eligible at-risk people would be made available from 16 January, 2023.
Although the vaccine had not yet been approved by Medsafe, 5000 vials of it had been obtained, enough for up to 20,000 people.
Those initially eligible for the vaccine included:
- close physical contacts of people infected with mpox, such as sexual partners and people who live in the same household
- gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men who have multiple sexual partners, and trans and cisgender women who are in intimate relationships with these eligible men
- those recommended to have the vaccine by medical specialists.
People wishing to assess whether they are at risk of mpox are advised to contact Healthline on 0800 116 672.
- BBC, RNZ