Monkeypox is no longer classified as an endemic disease by the WHO

• Monkeypox had generally been confined to Western and Central Africa; but is now present in several continents.
• Between January 1 and June 15, 2,103 confirmed cases.
• The WHO is due to hold an emergency meeting; to determine whether to classify global monkeypox outbreak as a public health emergency.

Monkeypox has been restricted to Western and Central Africa until recently, but it is now seen on various continents.

In order to effectively unify the response to monkeypox; WHO has erased the distinction between endemic and non-endemic nations from its data.

Monkeypox has been restricted to Western and Central Africa until recently, but it is now seen on various continents.

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“We are removing the distinction between endemic and non-endemic countries; reporting on countries together where possible, to reflect the unified response that is needed”; the WHO said in its outbreak situation update dated June 17 but sent to media on Saturday. Between January 1 and June 15, 2,103 confirmed cases; a probable case and one death have been reported to the WHO in 42 countries, it said.

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