Mpox outbreak is no longer a public health emergency in the US as cases dwindle after 26 deaths nationwide

THE United States public health emergency for MPox, formerly known as monkeypox, is officially over as cases quietly decline nationwide.

Health officials’ decision came on Tuesday, nearly nine months after MPox cases spiraled out of control across the country and 26 deaths were recorded.

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A breath of fresh air was sent to the public after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed the average number of daily cases has been floating in each digital for months.

The first public emergency for the virus was declared last August and renewed in November.

In August 2021, daily cases of MPOX peaked at around 450 per day.

“Since the beginning of the mpox outbreak, the Biden-Harris administration — working through HHS and many of its agencies — has pulled every lever to stop the spread of this virus,” the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement to The Hill .

“Given the small number of cases today, HHS has not renewed the emergency declaration.

“But we will not take our foot off the gas – we will continue to monitor case trends closely and encourage all those at risk to receive a free vaccine,” they added.

Despite the move, the US led the world in cases during the 2022-23 outbreak, with more than 300,000 cases reported on US soil.

New York City also declared the end of the mpox public health emergency on Wednesday.

Cases have also fallen across Europe, the western Pacific and Asia, according to the World Health Organization.

Amid the mpox outbreak, health officials warned vulnerable communities, particularly members of the LGBTQ+ community, to change their behavior to avoid being diagnosed with the disease.

Antiviral treatments such as Jynneos, TPOXX or Tecovirimat are now available to treat an MPOX diagnosis.