The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reaffirmed that the global Mpox outbreak remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to its continued rapid spread across multiple countries.
This declaration follows the fourth meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee, held on June 5, 2025, to assess the global Mpox situation.
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, made the announcement on Monday, aligning with the committee’s recommendation that the Mpox outbreak still meets the criteria for a global emergency.
“Despite progress in some countries, the growing number of cases and ongoing undetected transmission in other regions — especially in West Africa — are alarming,” WHO said in a statement released after the meeting.
The WHO acknowledged significant operational challenges, such as limited surveillance capacity, diagnostic constraints, and funding shortages, all of which hamper effective outbreak response.
“These challenges complicate containment efforts and threaten to overwhelm health systems in affected countries,” the statement added.
Mpox by the Numbers (as of May 13, 2025):
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): 7,411 cases | 22 deaths
Uganda: 4,590 cases | 28 deaths
Sierra Leone: 1,387 cases | 10 deaths
Burundi: 937 cases | 0 deaths
WHO first declared Mpox a public health emergency on August 14, 2024, following a surge in the DRC and its neighbouring countries. Since then, the Emergency Committee has convened four times — each confirming that the situation continues to demand international attention.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Clade I Mpox virus is now spreading person-to-person through sexual contact, household interactions, and healthcare settings, particularly where protective equipment is lacking.
Countries with Sustained Human Transmission (as of June 2, 2025):
East and Central Africa: Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo
Travel-Linked Cases Detected In: Angola, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, UK, USA, Zimbabwe
The WHO also highlighted the Clade II Mpox outbreak, noting over 100,000 cases in 122 countries, with 115 of those countries having no prior Mpox history. This wave is driven by the subclade IIb variant, now posing a significant threat to global public health.
Next Steps and Global Response
The WHO has issued updated temporary recommendations to help member states contain the virus. These include:
Strengthening surveillance systems
Scaling up diagnostic capacity
Enhancing public awareness campaigns
Allocating emergency funding for outbreak response
“The global health community must not be complacent. Mpox is no longer confined to a handful of endemic regions — it is now a global concern,” Dr. Ghebreyesus warned.
The full report of the Emergency Committee’s June 5 meeting is expected to be released next week, providing detailed insights into the evolving situation and guiding future response efforts.
