Old Video of WHO Director-General Announcing End of Mpox Global Emergency Resurfaces

Misbar investigated the viral footage and found the claim to be misleading.

A thorough reverse image search found the video making the rounds to be older than claimed.

Old Video of WHO Director-General Declaring Mpox Global Emergency Is Over

Contrary to social media users, the video is not related to the recent Mpox public health emergency.

The video dates back to May 2023, when the World Health Organization declared the end of the global emergency initially announced in July 2022. 

During a press conference on May 11, 2023, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that Mpox (Monkeypox) was no longer considered a global health emergency. The press conference video was later uploaded to WHO’s YouTube channel on May 15, 2023.

WHO Announced End of Mpox Health Emergency in May 2023

Mpox, which causes welts on the skin, was declared a global health emergency in July 2022 when Mpox cases reached their peak in July and August at the time.

During a press conference on May 11, 2023, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that more than 87,000 cases and 140 deaths have been reported from 111 countries, but there is a nearly 90% reduction in cases.

“I am pleased to declare that the Mpox is no longer a global health emergency,” he said, adding: “We now see steady progress in controlling the outbreak.”

His declaration followed the WHO’s emergency committee's recommendation that the multi-country Mpox outbreak no longer represents a public health emergency of international concern.

However, the WHO cautioned that efforts to combat the virus must continue, as it still poses "significant health challenges."

WHO Director-General Declares Mpox a Global Health Emergency in August 2024

On August 14, 2024, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus once again declared the Mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. This decision was made in response to the rising cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and an increasing number of countries across Africa.

Dr. Tedros's announcement followed the advice of an IHR Emergency Committee of independent experts. The Committee advised that the upsurge in Mpox cases constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, with the potential to spread further within Africa and possibly beyond the continent.

In his declaration, Dr. Tedros expressed deep concern, stating, "The emergence of a new clade of Mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries are very worrying. On top of outbreaks of other Mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.”

What Is Mpox?

Mpox is a viral infection that spreads through close contact, including sexual contact and causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and muscle aches, along with pus-filled lesions. Although typically mild, the infection can sometimes be fatal.

There are two main types of Mpox, known as clades, with the latest outbreak linked to clade 1. This current strain appears to spread more easily and has a higher fatality rate compared to the clade 2 strain that emerged in 2022. It also seems to disproportionately impact younger individuals, with most deaths occurring among children.

While vaccines are available to combat the virus, access remains a challenge. The WHO is collaborating with countries and vaccine manufacturers to improve availability in the most affected regions.

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