The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared mpox a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC), warning of its rapid global spread.
In a Wednesday press conference, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the outbreak ‘very worrying,’ highlighting over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths reported globally this year alone. ‘This should concern us all,’ he said, emphasizing the risk of further transmission.
Why Should You Care?
The PHEIC label—the WHO’s highest alert—comes as mpox cases surpass 2023’s total. Africa CDC has already declared it a continent-wide emergency, with outbreaks involving multiple virus clades and transmission modes. Think: different strains acting in different ways, making containment tricky.
Vaccines on the Way
The EU plans to send 175,420 vaccine doses to Africa, while Danish biotech firm Bavarian Nordic is donating 40,000 doses. Tedros stressed that global cooperation is key: ‘We’re not dealing with one outbreak but several.’
Stay informed, stay safe—this isn’t just a headline.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared mpox a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC), warning of its rapid global spread.
