In a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee concluded that the current upsurge of mpox, driven predominantly by the monkeypox virus clade Ib, continues to meet the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This determination follows their second meeting held on November 22, 2024, amidst a backdrop of rising cases and geographic spread, particularly in the WHO African Region.
During the meeting, the Committee acknowledged efforts at both national and international levels to control mpox outbreaks, but emphasized ongoing challenges, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The virus has spread beyond the African continent, with related cases reported in regions such as the United States, Germany, and India, indicating international dissemination.
Key concerns highlighted include the operational struggles in affected regions, primarily regarding surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, contact tracing, and community engagement, which are not yet universally robust. This has led to continued community transmission in various demographics, primarily in adults, but increasingly among children.
The Committee emphasized the urgent need for cohesive international cooperation to augment local response efforts, focusing on scaling up interventions, ensuring access to medical countermeasures, and applying lessons from mpox vaccination initiatives.
The meeting also reviewed the WHO's strategic response plans which involved distributing over 1.1 million doses of the MVA-BN vaccine, and highlighted a need to improve vaccine coverage in high-risk communities and among specific demographics, including those under 18 and immunocompromised individuals.
Efforts by the WHO, in collaboration with the Africa CDC, have centered around creating a coordinated response across countries and establishing systems for equitable vaccine allocation. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives depends heavily on the political commitment from national authorities to prioritize mpox as an urgent public health threat.
To address these challenges, the WHO has issued temporary recommendations for countries experiencing mpox outbreaks. These include intensifying surveillance efforts, expanding diagnostics, integrating vaccine strategies, strengthening international health coordination, and promoting community protection measures. The recommendations aim to galvanize national and global resources towards containment and prevention of further transmission.
The WHO remains committed to updating its guidance based on evolving scientific evidence and continues to underscore the importance of respecting human rights and dignity throughout its public health efforts.
As the international effort to control mpox intensifies, the WHO's coordination with local authorities and partners remains crucial in tackling what remains a complex and evolving global health issue.
