The recent mpox outbreak in several African nations has shown signs of slowing down, with countries ramping up their responses to combat the virus. As a result, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the situation no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced at a press briefing that the decision to lift the emergency declaration was based on sustained declines in cases and deaths in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. The outbreak had been declared an emergency in August 2024 due to increasing transmission rates and fears of international spread.
While the emergency declaration has been lifted, health officials emphasize the need to continue fighting the virus in affected African countries. Globally, there have been over 34,000 confirmed cases of mpox and 138 deaths reported from the beginning of the year through July 31. The Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded more than 15,000 cases, with Uganda, Sierra Leone, and Burundi reporting the bulk of the remaining cases.
In a recent situation report on the outbreak, the WHO highlighted ongoing transmission of the virus in 21 African countries, with different strains spreading across the continent. While cases have been identified in countries outside Africa, they were linked to travel rather than community spread.
Tedros and Dimie Ogoina, an infectious disease expert from Nigeria, noted that health officials now have a better understanding of the virus transmission and risk factors for severe outcomes. Countries have expanded diagnostic access, improved care systems, and administered nearly 1 million doses of the mpox vaccine.
Ogoina emphasized the need for a short- and long-term strategy to continue combatting the virus, as flare-ups are likely to occur. Tedros stressed the importance of protecting vulnerable populations, such as those with HIV and young children, from severe infections.
Mpox, believed to be carried by small rodents in some African countries, causes painful scarring rashes, fever, muscle aches, headaches, and respiratory symptoms in infected individuals. Most mpox deaths occur in children under the age of 5 and people with weakened immune systems.
While the emergency declaration has been lifted, health officials caution against complacency and stress the importance of maintaining response strategies. The declaration of a public health emergency of international concern allows the WHO to issue temporary recommendations to countries on how to address the threat.
The previous mpox emergency, which ran from July 2022 to May 2023, was associated with global spread through sexual contact among men who have sex with men. This marked the first time ongoing person-to-person spread of mpox was recorded, underscoring the need for continued vigilance in combating the virus.
