The World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed that the ongoing mpox outbreak continues to qualify as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
This declaration was made by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus following the fourth meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee, held on June 5, 2025.
In a statement released on Monday, the WHO noted that although some countries have made progress in their response capabilities, the continued global spread of mpox — particularly in West Africa — and the likelihood of undetected transmission beyond Africa support maintaining the PHEIC status.
“The Director-General concurred with the Committee’s advice and issued revised temporary recommendations to Member States to guide efforts in preventing and controlling the disease,” the statement read.
Challenges Remain
The WHO highlighted several persistent challenges, including inadequate surveillance, limited diagnostic capacity, and insufficient funding — all of which are hindering effective response strategies and international coordination.
The full report from the latest Emergency Committee meeting is expected to be published next week.
Outbreak Timeline and Impact
Mpox was first declared a public health emergency on August 14, 2024, following a sharp increase in cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its spread to neighboring countries. Since then, the Committee has met three additional times, each time maintaining the emergency classification.
As of May 13, 2025, WHO data shows:
- DRC: 7,411 cases, 22 deaths
- Uganda: 4,590 cases, 28 deaths
- Sierra Leone: 1,387 cases, 10 deaths
- Burundi: 937 cases, no reported deaths
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported sustained person-to-person transmission of Clade I mpox in some non-endemic countries, occurring through close contact — including sexual, household, and healthcare settings without proper protective equipment.
Countries Facing Ongoing Transmission
As of June 2, 2025, WHO reports sustained human-to-human transmission in:
- Burundi
- DRC
- Kenya
- Malawi
- Rwanda
- South Sudan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
Additional sustained transmission is evident in the Central African Republic and Republic of the Congo.
Meanwhile, travel-associated cases have been recorded in countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, the United States, and others, spanning over 25 nations.
Global Spread of Clade II Mpox
The ongoing Clade II mpox outbreak has resulted in over 100,000 cases across 122 countries, including 115 countries with no prior history of mpox. This wave has been driven by subclade IIb, according to WHO.
