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GENEVA, Switzerland – The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the ongoing upsurge of mpox continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), following a meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee on February 25, 2025.
The decision, announced by WHO Director-General on February 27, 2025, comes amidst concerns over the volatile epidemiological situation, particularly in the African region, where the majority of cases and deaths have been reported.
According to the WHO, nearly 130,000 confirmed mpox cases, including over 280 deaths, have been reported globally from 130 countries and territories between January 2022 and January 2025. The WHO African Region accounts for 61% of cases and 72% of deaths in the past 12 months.
The Emergency Committee highlighted several critical challenges, including:
- Rising geopolitical instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), hindering response efforts.
- Concurrent health emergencies, such as the Sudan virus disease outbreak in Uganda, straining resources.
- Uncertainties related to the pause in financial support from the United States, which has contributed significantly to global response funding.
The WHO Deputy Director-General emphasized that without sufficient funds, the ability of states, the WHO, and partners to maintain and expand the mpox response would be compromised.
The committee expressed particular concern about the spread of MPXV clade Ib, which is driving the surge in cases in the DRC, Burundi, and Uganda. They noted the shift in age groups affected, with increasing transmission among children in certain regions.
The WHO Secretariat also highlighted the detection of travel-related imported cases of MPXV clade Ib in several countries outside the African region, indicating the continued risk of international spread.
Despite progress in some areas of the response, such as surveillance and laboratory diagnostics, the committee stressed the need for a coordinated international response to address the ongoing challenges.
The committee has reiterated the need to elaborate on considerations, related to the three criteria defining a PHEIC, that would inform its future advice to the WHO Director-General as to the termination of this PHEIC.
The WHO Director-General expressed his gratitude to the Committee for its advice and issued temporary recommendations to member states to mitigate the further spread of mpox.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided by the WHO and reflects the situation as of the date of the Emergency Committee meeting. The epidemiological situation is dynamic and may change. Readers should refer to the WHO website for the most up-to-date information.
