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The Director-General, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has declared the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR).
Dr Tedros declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on August 14, 2024, based on the advice of an IHR Emergency Committee.
The Committee informed the Director-General that the upsurge of mpox in Africa had the potential to spread further across countries and possibly outside the continent.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Moeti, stated that significant efforts were underway to curb the spread, and the Committee Chair, Professor Ogoina, emphasised the need for decisive action to prevent history from repeating itself.
The Director-General's declaration came on the advice of an IHR Emergency Committee, which considered the upsurge of mpox to be a PHEIC with the potential to spread further across countries in Africa and possibly outside the continent.
The Director-General stated that he would issue temporary recommendations to countries based on the Committee's advice.
