WHO Maintains Global Health Emergency for Mpox as Cases Surge in Africa

The spread of a new Mpox variant in East Africa, compounded by conflict and funding shortages, remains a pressing international concern.

The World Health Organization has extended its highest alert level for Mpox, citing worsening outbreaks in East Africa and the spread of the Clade Ib variant.
Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is hampering vaccination efforts, with hundreds of thousands displaced and health infrastructure disrupted.
Over 15,400 cases of the Clade Ib variant have been reported in the DRC since early 2024, with thousands more in neighboring Burundi and Uganda.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and Germany's Robert Koch Institute assess the risk of significant spread in Europe as low despite isolated cases.
Mpox, primarily transmitted through close contact, often causes mild symptoms but can be fatal for children and immunocompromised individuals.