What outbreak in Africa did the WHO chief declare "no longer" a global health emergency?

The World Health Organization (WHO) chief declared the outbreak of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, as "no longer" a global health emergency due to a significant decrease in transmission and cases. This declaration indicates that the situation has improved to the extent that it no longer poses the same level of risk to international public health as it once did. When an outbreak is classified as a global health emergency, it signifies the need for a coordinated international response due to its potential to spread rapidly across borders. In the case of mpox, the effective public health responses, including vaccination and awareness campaigns, have contributed to controlling its spread, leading to the change in its classification.

In contrast, COVID-19, Ebola, and the Zika Virus still have or had significant health implications that could warrant ongoing public health responses and monitoring. While COVID-19 has seen different phases and classifications over time, it has not been declared non-threatening to global health. Similarly, Ebola outbreaks have historically required intense international response efforts, and the Zika Virus has raised continuous concerns due to its association with serious birth defects. Thus, the focus on mpox reflects a specific context of successful management of that outbreak.