Mpox Still a Global Health Emergency, Says WHO, as Cases Surge in Africa
By Wafric - Breaking News
Wafric News – June 10, 2025
The World Health Organization (WHO) has renewed its classification of the Mpox outbreak as a global health emergency, citing an alarming rise in cases across parts of Africa and the continued international spread of the virus.
Since the outbreak began in early 2024 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), more than 37,000 confirmed cases have been reported across 25 countries, with at least 125 recorded deaths, the WHO said on Monday.
DR Congo remains the epicentre, accounting for 60% of all confirmed infections and 40% of global deaths. The virus, which causes skin lesions and severe flu-like symptoms, continues to spread aggressively in regions already burdened by weak health infrastructure and limited access to resources.
Neighboring countries Uganda and Burundi have also seen significant spikes in cases, while Sierra Leone has reported a disturbing surge in recent months.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the decision to extend the emergency status followed recommendations from an expert committee convened last Thursday.
“The continued rise in cases, especially in West Africa, and signs of undetected transmission beyond the continent are clear warnings,” the committee concluded. “Surveillance gaps and funding shortfalls remain a major concern.”
The virus—once largely confined to Central and West Africa—is now being reported in regions where it had no previous foothold, sparking fears of global resurgence and further underreporting.
The WHO first declared mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in August 2024. Despite early attention, global focus has since faded, even as the outbreak has intensified in African countries.
Mpox vaccine The WHO emphasized the need for continued international solidarity, warning that underfunded health systems across Africa are struggling to detect, treat, and contain the virus.
Public health advocates have raised concerns that, once again, a deadly epidemic affecting mostly African populations is not receiving proportional global attention or resources.
“The international community cannot afford to wait until mpox reaches wealthier countries before acting decisively,” a health worker in Kinshasa told Wafric News. “Lives are being lost now—not just to disease, but to neglect.”
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