On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern,” marking the highest level of alert under international health regulations, as stated by WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X.
Ghebreyesus noted that the advice from the WHO Emergency Committee aligns with that of the Africa CDC, which recently declared mpox a regional public health emergency.
Since the start of 2024, over a dozen African countries have reported cases of mpox, with the Democratic Republic of Congo accounting for more than 90% of them. The disease, transmitted through close contact, causes rashes and flu-like symptoms, according to WHO.
“WHO is fully committed in the coming days and weeks to coordinating a global response, working closely with affected countries and utilizing our on-the-ground presence to prevent transmission, treat those infected, and save lives,” Ghebreyesus emphasized.
To support these efforts, WHO has developed a regional response plan requiring an initial $15 million. Ghebreyesus revealed that $1.45 million has already been released from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies, with more to follow. He also urged donors to help fund the remainder of the response plan.
