PandemicPreparedness

2025

5 September: WHO lifted the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for mpox on 5 September, following recommendations from its Emergency Committee. The decision follows a sustained drop in mpox cases and deaths across several African countries, alongside an improved understanding of transmission patterns and risk factors for severe illness.

Despite the lifting of the PHEIC, the WHO Director-General emphasised that mpox remains a threat and Africa CDC continues to classify it as a continental emergency, underscoring the need for ongoing vigilance.

To support continued response efforts, WHO has extended standing recommendations for mpox and vaccine authorisations through August 2026.

3 September: The World Health Organization (WHO) will hold the fifth meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee on Thursday, 4 September 2025, to assess the ongoing mpox upsurge. The committee will advise the WHO Director-General on whether the outbreak still qualifies as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and will review existing temporary recommendations. The Director-General’s decision, based on the committee’s advice, and the committee’s official statement will be shared publicly after the meeting.

The Emergency Committee first convened on 14 August 2024, when the mpox outbreak was initially declared a PHEIC.

10 July: The WHO Director-General released the report from the fourth meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee on the 2024 mpox surge, held on 5 June 2025,

9 June: The fourth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee, held on 5 June 2025, addressed the ongoing global upsurge of mpox (monkeypox) cases. The WHO Director-General concurred with the committee’s assessment that the outbreak still qualifies as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The committee issued updated temporary recommendations for countries experiencing various levels of mpox transmission, particularly involving the MPXV clade Ib strain. These recommendations are valid until 20 August 2025 and align with WHO’s 2024–2027 Strategic Framework for mpox prevention and control.

Key priorities include strengthening emergency coordination, ensuring adequate resources at local levels, and upholding human rights in all public health responses. Countries are urged to act swiftly and transparently, especially in areas with sustained community transmission or travel-related cases. The guidance emphasizes the importance of international collaboration and continued vigilance to contain the outbreak effectively.

3 June: The Emergency Committee will convene for the fourth time on 5 June to assess whether mpox should continue to be classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). During the meeting, the committee will examine the latest epidemiological trends and evaluate the global response since its last session in February 2025. This includes a review of the implementation and impact of temporary recommendations issued to member states.

With the mpox outbreak persisting since 2022, particularly affecting regions in Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) will consider the ongoing need for international coordination, public health interventions, and resource mobilization to contain the virus. The Director-General’s decision, informed by the committee’s advice, will determine whether to maintain or lift the PHEIC designation, shaping the direction of future global response efforts.

27 February: Following the third meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) committee regarding the surge in mpox cases, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, announced that mpox will remain a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The committee based their decision on the continued rise in numbers and geographic spread,operational challenges and a lack of funding to implement a response plan.

2024

28 November: A report on the IHR Emergency Committee meeting held on 22 November has been published. Since the clade Ib mpox outbreak continues to meet the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), Temporary Recommendations for affected countries have been extended until 20 August 2025.

22 November: The International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) Emergency Committee convened for the second time to assess the mpox situation in Africa. Both the committee and the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General agreed that mpox remains a public health emergency of international concern, as initially declared on 14 August. This determination is based on the ongoing increase in infections, geographic spread of the disease, and operational challenges. A report of this meeting and Temporary Recommendations are expected next week.