The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the recent rise in Mpox cases still qualifies as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), according to criteria established under the International Health Regulations (IHR).
The announcement was made by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus following the fourth meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee, held on June 5, to assess the current status of the Mpox situation.
According to Dr. Ghebreyesus, the committee acknowledged improvements in response efforts in some countries but emphasized that the continued increase in cases and likely undetected transmission in regions outside Africa remain a significant concern.
He said: “Ongoing operational challenges in responding to the event, including concerning surveillance and diagnostics, as well as a lack of funding, make prioritising response interventions challenging and require continued international support.”
The committee’s advice led to updated temporary recommendations issued by the WHO for member states managing Mpox outbreaks. These recommendations are expected to guide international efforts to curb the spread of the virus.
“The upsurge of Mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its spread to neighbouring countries was first determined to be PHEIC by Ghebreyesus on Aug. 14, 2024,” he added. “Since then, the committee has met on three additional occasions, each time advising the director general that the event continues to constitute a PHEIC.”
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral disease first detected in laboratory monkeys in 1958, with the first human case identified in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a zoonotic virus that can be transmitted between animals and humans. Although primarily found in Central and West Africa, outbreaks have occurred in other regions, with a notable global outbreak in 2022 that heightened public and health sector awareness.
The full report of the committee’s latest meeting is expected to be released in the third week of June.