WHO Declares Global Health Emergency Over Mpox Outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) for mpox on Wednesday, citing the rapid spread of a new variant.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the decision during a news conference, following recommendations from the organization’s Emergency Committee.

The declaration comes as the U.S. reports 1,634 mpox cases this year, more than double the number from the same period last year. While mpox is endemic in parts of Central and Western Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has seen a significant surge, with over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths reported in 2024.

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A new variant, clade Ib, has been identified as the cause of the outbreak in the DRC and neighboring countries like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—regions that had not previously reported mpox cases. This clade is primarily spread through sexual contact.

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In response to the escalating situation, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared a continental public health emergency for mpox, marking the first activation of its PHECS since the agency’s establishment in 2017.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that clade I mpox has not spread beyond Central and Eastern Africa, and there is a low risk of this variant affecting the American population. The JYNNEOS vaccine, approved by the FDA for smallpox and mpox prevention, remains the primary defense, showing 85% effectiveness after two doses.

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