A 3-week-old girl suffering from mpox in the emergency room at Kavumu Hospital in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on 30 August 30, 2024. The girl's mother said she had been at the hospital for almost two weeks with little improvement in her daughter's condition due to a lack of the necessary medication. Staff say that the health facility is overwhelmed with mpox patients and lacks adequate medicines and protective equipment for health workers. Photo Credit: WHO
Geneva: The World Health Organization’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, today declared that the ongoing mpox outbreak continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern, as defined by the International Health Regulations. This announcement, rooted in the persistent global threat posed by the disease, came after the fourth meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee on June 5, 2025, which assessed the escalating situation and reaffirmed the need for sustained international action.
The mpox crisis, first flagged as a public health emergency on August 14, 2024, following its surge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and subsequent spread to neighbouring countries, shows no signs of abating. The Emergency Committee, convened four times since the initial declaration, noted a troubling rise in cases, particularly in West Africa, alongside evidence of undetected transmission in regions beyond Africa. Despite progress in some countries’ response capabilities, the committee highlighted significant hurdles, including gaps in surveillance and diagnostics, compounded by insufficient funding. These challenges have strained efforts to prioritise interventions, making international support critical to curbing the disease’s spread.
Dr. Tedros, aligning with the committee’s advice, upheld the emergency status and issued revised temporary recommendations to guide affected countries in controlling mpox. These recommendations, designed to strengthen prevention and containment efforts, reflect the evolving nature of the outbreak. A comprehensive report from the June 5 meeting is expected to be released the following week, detailing the committee’s findings and further guidance.
The mpox outbreak’s trajectory has demanded repeated scrutiny since its designation as a global emergency. The Emergency Committee’s initial meeting on August 14, 2024, prompted Dr. Tedros to declare the public health emergency and issue temporary recommendations on August 19, 2024. Subsequent meetings, each followed by updated recommendations, have underscored the outbreak’s persistence. The latest revisions, issued on June 9, 2025, aim to address ongoing operational challenges and bolster global coordination.
As mpox continues to spread, particularly in regions with limited resources, the WHO’s declaration serves as a call to action for member states and the international community. The organisation emphasises the need for enhanced surveillance, improved diagnostics, and increased funding to support affected countries. With undetected transmission posing a silent threat, the global response remains a race against time to contain a disease that respects no borders.
– global bihari bureau
