The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for COVID-19 on May 5 and for mpox on May 11, 2023. Throughout its use, the meaning of the PHEIC has been muddled. We call for a new, objective epidemic scale that better communicates to member states and the public regarding the potential severity of an epidemic and the necessity of activating proportional responses.