MPOXED

The World Health Organization has declared that mpox no longer represents a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, marking a major milestone in the global response. Sustained declines in cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda informed this decision. While the announcement reflects clear progress, it should not be mistaken for eradication. Mpox continues to pose risks in vulnerable populations and under-resourced areas. The decision underscores the value of international cooperation and targeted interventions, while reminding the global community that vigilance, investment in surveillance, and equitable vaccine access remain essential to prevent resurgence.

The Africa CDC’s Emergency Consultative Group has recommended that the Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) for mpox remain in place, despite recent declines in cases. While weekly confirmed infections fell by 52 percent between May and August 2025, new surges in Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, and Zambia highlight the fragility of progress. Infant deaths, case fatality rates above one percent in several countries, and gaps in testing and vaccine access underscore persistent risks. The Group warned that lifting the PHECS prematurely could weaken political will and resources. Sustained vigilance, expanded vaccination, and stronger surveillance remain essential to prevent resurgence.

The resurgence of mpox highlights the fragility of global health security. Once primarily linked to zoonotic spillovers in Central and West Africa, the virus is now sustained through human-to-human transmission across more than 100 countries. A recent review underscores how waning smallpox immunity, ecological disruption, and inequitable vaccine access fuel its spread. Vulnerable groups—immunocompromised individuals, pregnant people, and children—remain at highest risk of severe outcomes. While tools like MVA-BN vaccines and antivirals exist, their uneven distribution threatens to entrench mpox. The lesson is clear: without equity, sustained investment, and One Health approaches, regional outbreaks will continue to spark global crises.

A new study in The Lancet Primary Care offers the strongest evidence yet that the MVA-BN vaccine provides durable protection against severe mpox more than 18 months after vaccination. Australian researchers found full vaccination reduced hospitalization risk by 89 percent, despite antibody levels waning within months. Breakthrough infections were milder, underscoring the vaccine’s continued clinical value. The absence of outcome data for HIV-positive individuals remains a critical gap, especially as outbreaks intensify in high-prevalence regions. Policymakers now face key questions: whether booster doses are needed, how to prioritize high-risk populations, and how to ensure global equity in vaccine access.

Mpox, first detected in Virginia during the 2022 outbreak, continues to persist even as case numbers remain lower than in the initial surge. The Virginia Department of Health reports 23 cases so far in 2025, nearly matching the total for all of 2024. Transmission occurs primarily through close or sexual contact, with rashes serving as the most identifiable symptom. Men account for 95 percent of cases, and individuals with HIV or other immunocompromising conditions are most vulnerable to severe outcomes. Public health officials stress vaccination, especially for those with multiple partners, to reduce risk and protect communities across the commonwealth.

Researchers at Mount Sinai have identified three monoclonal antibodies that block mpox viral spread and prevent severe disease. Published in Cell, the study shows that these antibodies, isolated from a recovered patient, target the conserved viral protein A35, halting infection in lab models and fully protecting rodents. Importantly, individuals recovering from mpox naturally produce these antibodies, and their presence correlates with milder illness and fewer hospitalizations. With no approved drugs for mpox and failed clinical trials of existing candidates, this discovery offers a promising pathway toward targeted therapies that could address urgent global health and biodefense needs.

Mpox remains a global health emergency nearly a year after Africa CDC and WHO issued their highest alerts, yet the disease has faded from headlines. In Kenya and across Africa, the virus has spread widely, with over 100,000 suspected cases this year. Despite $1.1 billion in pledged support, vaccine delivery has lagged, with many U.S.-donated doses now expired. Experts warn that inconsistent data, weak surveillance, and funding cuts leave the world “walking blind.” Progress in lab capacity and vaccine approvals offers hope, but the sluggish response risks entrenching mpox as a permanent threat with global consequences.

One year after mpox was declared a continental emergency, Africa is reporting measurable progress. Coordinated action between Africa CDC, WHO, governments, and communities has expanded laboratory capacity from only a few sites to nearly 70 in the DRC and 56 in Burundi, while more than 6 million vaccines have been distributed. Confirmed cases dropped 34.5 percent in the past six weeks, with major declines in the DRC, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Burundi. Despite challenges such as funding gaps, stigma, and conflict in eastern DRC, strengthened surveillance, vaccination, and community engagement show Africa is building lasting resilience against mpox.

Nigeria’s targeted mpox vaccination campaign marks a vital step in protecting high-risk groups and reinforcing outbreak response across 12 states. Backed by WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi, the campaign is deploying 30,100 MVA-BN doses to frontline workers, immunocompromised individuals, and those exposed to confirmed cases. With mpox resurging after decades of absence and recent spikes in cases and deaths, the initiative is timely and strategic. Community voices reflect growing trust in vaccines, while officials emphasize cross-border health security. Early results show strong uptake, reinforcing the importance of collaboration, surveillance, and vaccination in curbing transmission and safeguarding vulnerable populations.