MPOX TRACKER

The World Health Organization (WHO) has upheld its classification of the 2024 mpox surge as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), following the third meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee. The committee highlighted ongoing challenges, including rising cases, security crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and a freeze in U.S. financial support that threatens outbreak containment efforts.

Since August 2024, mpox cases have continued to spread, particularly in the DRC, where geopolitical instability has severely disrupted response operations. Armed conflict in eastern DRC has forced the relocation of healthcare personnel and limited access to affected populations. With over 130,000 confirmed cases globally since 2022, the WHO African Region remains the hardest hit, accounting for 61% of cases and 72% of global deaths. The spread of MPXV clade Ib continues to accelerate, with travel-related cases detected in multiple countries across all six WHO regions.

The WHO stressed the need for urgent global action, including enhanced surveillance, expanded vaccination efforts, and sustained funding. The U.S. funding freeze has hampered diagnostic testing, case tracking, and vaccine distribution, particularly in high-burden countries like Burundi, Uganda, and the DRC. Without adequate resources, response efforts may falter, leading to increased transmission.

The WHO is working with international partners to address funding shortfalls and expand access to medical countermeasures. However, the organization warned that prolonged PHEIC status could undermine the effectiveness of future global health alerts. Moving forward, WHO will reassess the outbreak’s trajectory, urging nations to bolster domestic and international response efforts to curb mpox’s spread and prevent further public health destabilization.