GENEVA: The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has reaffirmed that the ongoing surge in mpox (monkeypox) cases continues to meet the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (IHR).
This declaration follows the fourth meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee convened to assess the current mpox outbreak. While acknowledging improvements in response capacity in some countries, the Committee advised that the outbreak remains a global health emergency due to the continued rise in case numbers—notably a recent increase in West Africa—and the likely undetected transmission occurring in regions beyond the African continent.
The Committee also raised concerns about persistent operational challenges, including insufficient surveillance and diagnostic capabilities, and a lack of adequate funding, all of which are hindering effective response efforts and highlight the need for sustained international cooperation and support.
Mpox was first declared a PHEIC by Dr. Tedros on 14 August 2024, following a significant rise in cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the virus’s spread to neighboring countries. Since then, the Emergency Committee has met three more times, consistently advising that the outbreak remains a serious global health threat.
