The WHO has declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has extended to neighboring countries.

Mpox, primarily transmitted through close contact, typically presents with flu-like symptoms and characteristic pustular lesions. While generally mild, the disease can be fatal in rare cases.

The WHO's declaration of a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern" (PHEIC) is its highest alert level, aimed at accelerating research, funding, and international public health measures to contain the outbreak.

The current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo was initially driven by clade I, an endemic strain. However, a new variant, clade Ib, has emerged, which appears to spread more efficiently through close contact, including sexual transmission. This variant has now been reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, prompting the WHO's escalated response.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for a coordinated international response to curb the outbreak and prevent further loss of life.

Earlier this week, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also declared an mpox emergency, citing a 160% increase in suspected cases compared to the same period last year. Over 17,000 suspected cases and 517 deaths have been reported across 13 African countries in 2024 alone.

In 2022, a separate clade, IIb, spread globally, primarily through sexual contact among men who have sex with men, leading to a previous WHO PHEIC declaration. That emergency was lifted 10 months later.