A laboratory sample marked “Monkeypox Virus,” highlighting the continued spread of mpox and the WHO’s decision to maintain its highest alert level.
Credit : Shutterstock, Yalcin Sonat
The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Thursday, 27 February 2025, that it will keep its highest state of alert for the ongoing mpox epidemic.
Despite global efforts to contain the virus—previously known as monkeypox—the number of cases and the range of affected countries continue to increase. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus endorsed a panel of experts’ recommendation to maintain the emergency status, highlighting “the continued rise in cases, the expanding geographic reach, the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that hampers the response, and the lack of adequate funding to implement containment measures.”
Mpox outbreak intensifies in the DRC
Dr Tedros first declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 14 August 2024, as mpox began to spread rapidly across Africa, with the DRC hit especially hard. The PHEIC represents the highest alert level under the International Health Regulations, which bind 196 countries to coordinate on public health threats. Mpox belongs to the same virus family as smallpox and can spread from infected animals to humans or through close physical contact between humans.
Mpox explained: Origins, key symptoms, and global impact
First identified in humans in 1970 in what was then Zaire, mpox causes fever, muscle aches, and large boil-like skin lesions. The disease can be deadly, especially without prompt treatment. The WHO’s decision to maintain maximum alert underscores the urgent need for global collaboration, particularly in conflict zones like eastern DRC where health workers face significant challenges. As experts push for more funding and stronger containment measures, the world watches to see how authorities will handle this fast-moving public health emergency.
