WHO to Assess Ongoing Mpox Crisis in Africa

The World Health Organization will hold an emergency meeting to evaluate if the mpox outbreak remains a global health emergency.

The WHO will convene on November 22 to determine the status of the mpox outbreak in Africa as a public health emergency of international concern.
Mpox cases in South Kivu, Congo, are showing signs of stabilization, though the virus continues to spread in other regions and countries like Burundi and Uganda.
The outbreak, driven by a new mpox variant, has resulted in over 46,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 deaths across Africa this year.
Vaccine supply remains limited, with only 50,000 people vaccinated in Congo, while an estimated 3 million doses are needed to control the outbreak.
The first cases of the new mpox variant have been reported outside Africa, with four individuals in the UK currently receiving treatment.