Mpox Surge Persists, Remains Global Health Emergency — WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has maintained that mpox remains a public health emergency of international concern, citing rising global cases and continued transmission in new regions.

This declaration follows the fourth meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee on June 5, 2025, which reviewed the recent upsurge of mpox. The virus was first declared a global health emergency by the WHO on August 14, 2024.

While the committee acknowledged progress in some countries, it advised WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus that the number of mpox cases continues to rise globally. The IHR noted a significant spike in West Africa and warned of possible undetected transmission in countries outside the continent.

The director-general accepted the committee’s recommendation and confirmed that mpox still meets the criteria for a public health emergency.

“Since the beginning of 2024, more than 37,000 confirmed mpox cases have been reported to WHO from 25 countries, including 125 deaths,” Ghebreyesus said during the meeting.

“Congo accounts 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,” he added.

The WHO also reported that seven new countries — Albania, Ethiopia, Malawi, North Macedonia, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Togo — have experienced mpox outbreaks for the first time since the committee last met in February.

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