Third meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024 – Temporary recommendations
February 27, 2025
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed that the mpox outbreak remains a global health emergency following the third International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee meeting. WHO has issued a revised set of temporary recommendations focusing on emergency coordination, enhanced surveillance, clinical care, cross-border collaboration, vaccination, and community engagement. These measures aim to curb transmission, particularly in hotspots affected by the Clade Ib variant. WHO urges governments to commit resources, strengthen health systems, and combat stigma while integrating mpox response into broader disease control efforts. Quarterly reporting on progress is mandated to ensure accountability and effective global coordination.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has extended its global health emergency declaration on mpox following a meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee. With cases of the Clade Ib variant continuing to spread across multiple regions, WHO has issued a revised set of temporary recommendations aimed at strengthening global mpox prevention and control efforts.
The updated guidelines focus on emergency coordination, enhancing surveillance, improving clinical care, ensuring international collaboration, expanding vaccination efforts, and protecting vulnerable communities. Governments are urged to commit political and financial resources to intensify their response at the lowest administrative levels, particularly in active transmission zones. Additionally, WHO calls for increased laboratory capacity, improved transport of samples, and the decentralization of testing to enhance case detection. Clinical care recommendations emphasize expanding access to treatment, particularly for children, pregnant women, and individuals with HIV, while strengthening infection prevention measures and ensuring healthcare worker safety. WHO also highlights the importance of cross-border coordination, recommending countries avoid unnecessary travel restrictions while ensuring timely information-sharing.
Vaccination remains a key strategy, with WHO advising targeted immunization in hotspots to prevent community transmission. The organization also stresses the need for widespread risk communication and community engagement to counter misinformation, address stigma, and encourage early medical intervention. Recognizing the financial and research gaps, WHO calls for increased funding, integration of mpox prevention into broader disease control programs, and investments in genomic sequencing to better track viral evolution. Governments must report quarterly on their progress in implementing these measures. With mpox still posing a significant public health threat, WHO's directive underscores the urgency of coordinated action to contain the outbreak, prevent further spread, and build long-term resilience against future outbreaks.