World Health Organization Declares Mpox Outbreak in Africa a Global Health Emergency

Published on August 14, 2024

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Aug. 14 declared the outbreak of mpox in Africa a public health emergency of international concern, due to the increase in cases and deaths in recent months. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the United Nation’s WHO, announced the declaration in Geneva, accepting a recommendation from WHO’s emergency committee. Tedros said there’s already been more than 14,000 reported cases, and 524 reported deaths in Africa this year, a jump from last year. He also pointed to the emergence of a new mpox strain, or clade, which he described as worrying. “In addition to other outbreaks of other clades of mpox in other parts of Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” Tedros said at a briefing....

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