Mpox Still Public Health Emergency – WHO

By Friday Obande

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the mpox virus is still a public health emergency of international concern.

The announcement follows the fourth meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) emergency committee on the upsurge of mpox, held on June 5, 2025.

The committee advised Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, that the number of mpox cases continues to rise despite steps taken to combat the epidemic.

The IHR said there has been an mpox spike in West Africa and likely undetected transmission in some countries beyond the African continent.

However, the DG agreed with the committee’s advice and on Monday announced that the mpox upsurge continues to meet the criteria of a public health emergency of international concern.

According to him, since the beginning of 2024, more than” 37,000 confirmed mpox cases have been reported to WHO from 25 countries, including 125 deaths”, with Congo accounting for 60 percent of confirmed cases and 40 percent of deaths, followed by Uganda, Burundi, and Sierra Leone, which has been experiencing a surge in cases since the beginning of 2025.

“In addition to confirmed cases, the DRC continues to report between 2000 and 3000 suspected cases each week.

“Since you last met in February, seven additional countries have reported outbreaks for the first time: Albania, Ethiopia, Malawi, North Macedonia, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania and Togo.

“WHO continues to work in all affected countries, with the Africa CDC and other partners, under our shared continental response plan,” he added.

Mpox was first declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO on August 14, 2024.