Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
WHO chief says Mpox is no longer a global health emergency.
Fact
2023 video of WHO chief shared out of context
A video purportedly showing WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announcing that Mpox was “no longer a global health emergency” is being widely circulated on social media platforms. Users sharing the video claim that the WHO has “backtraced,” and “reversed” its decision of categorising Mpox as a global public health emergency just days after its announcement. Newschecker, however, found the video to be old.
Multiple X and Facebook users shared the 29-second-long-video of the WHO Chief purportedly saying, “…Yesterday, the Emergency Committee for Mpox met and recommended to me that the multicountry outbreak of Mpox no longer represents a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice and am pleased to declare that Mpox is no longer a global health emergency.” A longer version of the footage has also surfaced online.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here and here.
Also Read: 2023 Video Of Donald Trump Goes Viral To Push Mpox Conspiracy Theory Ahead Of US Presidential Polls
The WHO declared Mpox, a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on August 14, 2024, amid upsurge of cases in Congo and elsewhere in Africa.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros said, “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 (Democratic Republic of Congo) and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.”
Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Mpox,” and “no longer emergency” on Google for the past 24 hours did not yield any credible reports stating that the WHO has taken such a decision on Monkeypox.
On carefully analysing the viral footage, we noticed the watermark on “Bloomberg Línea” on the top right corner on the screen.
Taking a clue, we looked up keyword “Mpox” on the official YouTube channel of the outlet which led us to a video dated May 12, 2023, titled “Monkeypox no longer a global emergency: WHO (translated from Spanish via Google)” In the video, Dr Tedros is seen making the same remarks as in the viral clip, and declaring that Mpox was no longer a public health emergency.
We then looked up the keywords “Mpox,” and “no longer emergency” on Google, and set the time frame of the search for May 10, 2023 to May 20, 2023. This led us to a YouTube video by the WHO titled “Mpox no longer represents a public health emergency of international concern.”
Also Read: Internet Trends Around RG Kar Rape-Murder Case Underscore Disturbing Truths
In the video, Dr Tedros is heard saying saying, “In July last year, I declared a public health emergency of international concern over the multi-country outbreak of Mpox as the virus spread rapidly across the world….Yesterday, the Emergency Committee for Mpox met and recommended to me that the multi-country outbreak of Mpox no longer represents a public health emergency of international concern… pleased to declare that Mpox is no longer a global health emergency.” The date stamp on the video stated, “May 11, 2023.”
The full media briefing by WHO live streamed on May 11, 2023, and its transcript can be accessed here.
Notably, the WHO had earlier declared Monkeypox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in July 2022. Multiple outlets such as this, this and this had reported the same. It was withdrawn nearly a year later in May 2023. The viral video is from the same announcement, and does not inform WHO’s recent decision on Mpox. See relevant reports here, here and here.
Also Read: Old Video From Visakhapatnam Falsely Linked To Kolkata Rape And Murder Case
Conclusion
Hence, an old video of WHO Chief Dr Tedros has been shared to misleadingly claim that Mpox is no longer a global health emergency.
Result: False
Sources
YouTube Video By Bloomberg Línea, Dated May 12, 2023
YouTube Video By WHO, Dated May 15, 2023
Release By WHO, Dated May 11, 2023
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
