The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) said today that the number of cases of infection with Monkeypox, now known as Mpox, has fallen by almost 90% in the last three months globally. However, the organization warns that the virus continues to circulate in various communities and countries.

The data was provided by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a video message sent to the experts of the organization's Emergency Committee, who are meeting to consider whether Monkeypox should continue to be considered an international public health emergency (PHEIC), the highest level of alert decreed by the WHO.

It was about a year ago that the WHO began to receive the first reports of cases of infection in countries on the European and American continents and, in July 2022, the director-general declared the outbreak an international public health emergency.

"In total, more than 87,000 cases and 140 deaths have been reported to the WHO from 111 countries. Due to global mobilization and the rapid response of most countries, we are now seeing steady progress in controlling this outbreak," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

According to the WHO director-general, there have been almost 90% fewer reported cases in the last three months compared to the previous quarter, but despite this global downward trend, the "virus continues to be transmitted in certain communities and countries", such as in the Western Pacific region.

However, there is no clear trend for cases in Africa, where infections continue to be reported in several countries, said the WHO official, also regretting that many countries are now slowing down surveillance and reducing access to screening tests and vaccines.