GENEVA, Switzerland – The World Health Organization (WHO) has lifted its highest health alert on mpox, declaring that the disease no longer represents a global public health emergency.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement on Friday, citing a sustained decline in cases in the hardest-hit countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
“The decision is based on advice from the WHO’s Emergency Committee, which meets every three months to evaluate the outbreak,” Tedros said.
The UN health agency first declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024, when a new and more aggressive strain of the virus spread from eastern DRC into neighbouring states, raising fears of wider regional transmission.
At the peak of the outbreak, thousands of cases and dozens of deaths were reported, prompting urgent vaccination drives and international containment measures.
However, the WHO now says the response has successfully curbed transmission, with case numbers steadily falling for several months.
Despite the downgrade, Tedros urged countries not to relax their guard, stressing that mpox remains a public health threat in parts of Africa and could resurface if surveillance and control measures are neglected.
“A global emergency may be over, but the disease is not gone. Continued monitoring, vaccination, and investment in health systems are crucial to prevent a resurgence,” he said.
Mpox, a viral illness similar to smallpox but generally less severe, is transmitted through close contact.
Symptoms include fever, rashes, swollen lymph nodes, and in severe cases, complications that can be fatal.
The WHO’s decision marks a significant milestone for affected countries, many of which had strained health systems grappling with the outbreak alongside other emergencies.
