Global Mpox Emergency Status Lifted by WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially announced the lifting of the global public health emergency status concerning mpox, following a significant decline in reported cases and fatalities. This decision comes after a thorough assessment by the WHO's emergency committee, which convened recently to evaluate the ongoing situation regarding mpox outbreaks in various regions, notably the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In August 2024, WHO had classified mpox as a public health emergency of international concern due to a dual epidemic affecting multiple countries, with the DRC being the most severely impacted. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the current decision is grounded in a notable decrease in the number of cases and deaths in the DRC and other affected nations, including Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.

While the emergency declaration has been lifted, Tedros emphasized that this does not signify the end of the threat posed by mpox. He cautioned that the situation remains critical, particularly in Africa, where the potential for further outbreaks still exists. He noted a better understanding of the factors driving transmission and an improved response capacity in the most affected regions.

The African Union's health authority has, however, indicated that the positive trends observed may not yet be stable enough to warrant a similar lifting of the emergency at the continental level. This year, as of the end of July, over 34,000 confirmed mpox cases and 138 deaths have been reported globally, with a substantial number of incidents occurring in the DRC alone.

Mpox, which is caused by a virus related to smallpox, can spread to humans from infected animals and can also be transmitted between individuals through close contact. This disease, first identified in humans in 1970 in the DRC, can lead to severe symptoms, including fever, muscle pain, and significant skin lesions, with the potential for fatal outcomes.

Dimie Ogoina, who has led the WHO's mpox emergency committee, pointed out that the mortality rate in endemic areas has decreased from 3.6% to approximately 1%. Despite this progress, he urged nations to maintain vigilance and not to underestimate the potential for resurgence. He highlighted the necessity of continued investment in measures to combat mpox to avoid backtracking on the gains made during the emergency period.

To date, over three million doses of the mpox vaccine have been distributed to 12 countries, with nearly one million doses administered. Mpox is categorized into two subtypes: the more severe clade 1 and the relatively less severe clade 2. The virus has been endemic in Central Africa for decades but gained global attention in May 2022 when clade 2 began to spread internationally, predominantly affecting the gay and bisexual male communities.

The WHO initially declared a global health emergency in July 2022, but this was lifted in May 2023 due to effective vaccination campaigns and raised awareness that curtailed further transmission. However, a resurgence in cases led to a renewed epidemic, prompting the WHO to declare a new public health emergency of international concern.

Since 2009, the WHO has issued a PHEIC designation only eight times, encompassing various health crises including the H1N1 flu, poliovirus outbreaks, the Zika virus, COVID-19, and multiple instances of Ebola and mpox.