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Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly and the Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth have today welcomed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration that Mpox no longer constitutes a global public health emergency.

The declaration comes after the 5th meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Mpox and follows last week’s announcement on the end of the COVID-19 global public health emergency.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted the “steady progress in controlling the outbreak based on the lessons of HIV and working closely with the most affected communities,” while cautioning that the work to tackle Mpox is not over as the disease continues to pose challenges for public health.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister Donnelly said:

The WHO’s announcement is a welcome development and highlights the success in tackling this disease. Awareness campaigns and the close engagement of the affected community with public health have played a vital role in helping to bring the disease under control. We continue to work towards the long-term elimination of the disease, and I would urge all those eligible for vaccination to consider making an appointment. Appointments continue to be available through the HSE website.

Professor Breda Smyth said:

This announcement follows a steep decline in case numbers and is a very welcome development. However, it is important that those at higher risk continue to follow public health advice and safe sexual health practices. Public health measures including vaccination will continue to play an important role as we work to keep this illness at bay and I would encourage those who are eligible to come forward for vaccination.

Notes

The latest public health advice is available here: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/zoonotic/monkeypox/

Cases of Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox), outside of endemic areas have been reported since May 2022. Most cases have been detected in males between 18-40 years of age, and primarily among men who self-identified as gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men (gbMSM).

On 23 July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO), declared that the global outbreak of Mpox constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). A PHEIC is the highest level of alert that the WHO can confer.

The weekly number of reported Mpox cases peaked in mid-2022, and since then a steady declining trend has been observed, reaching a plateau with very low numbers since the end of December 2022.  Sporadic cases continue to occur.

Mpox vaccination appointments continue to be available at www.hse.ie for anybody from the at-risk group who wishes to receive a vaccine.

The HSE is working closely with the WHO on further actions to reduce the risk of Mpox and future outbreaks

If you are experiencing the symptoms of Mpox or are concerned that you may be experiencing symptoms of Mpox contact your local sexual health clinic or general practitioner to discuss your symptoms. Do not attend a clinic or your GP without calling ahead first.

A list of public STI services is available on the HSE’s Sexual Wellbeing website https://www.sexualwellbeing.ie/sexual-health/hse-sti-services-in-ireland.html