WHO says mpox remains a public health emergency of international concern

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed that mpox remains a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) due to its rising case numbers and expanding geographic spread.

The decision follows a meeting of the WHO’s emergency committee, which cited ongoing outbreaks, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as well as funding shortages and security challenges in affected areas.

Mpox, caused by a virus related to smallpox, spreads through close physical contact and has been endemic in Central Africa for decades. While a global outbreak in 2022 was largely controlled through vaccination and awareness efforts, a resurgence in 2023, particularly in the DRC, led the WHO to redeclare the emergency last August.

The DRC reported over 13,000 cases and 43 deaths in 2024, with infections continuing to rise. WHO urges sustained global response efforts to prevent further spread and contain the outbreak.