The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday it will convene its Emergency Committee next week to assess whether mpox remains a global health crisis. The meeting will determine if the disease, which continues to spread significantly across African countries, should retain its classification as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)—the highest level of alert issued by the UN health body.
Mpox, which can be spread through close human contact, was designated a PHEIC due to the risk it poses to public health on a global scale. The disease is primarily transmitted through direct contact with infectious skin lesions, respiratory droplets, or short-range aerosols, making close interactions—such as talking, breathing, touching, or intimacy—potential means of transmission. Mpox can also spread indirectly through contact with contaminated materials, such as clothing or linens, and in environments like tattoo parlors where exposure to infected individuals may occur.
For individuals who have been exposed to mpox, WHO recommends vaccination as a preventive measure. The organization advises receiving the mpox vaccine within four days of exposure to reduce the risk of infection. If symptoms have not yet appeared, vaccination may still be effective up to 14 days post-exposure. This vaccination strategy is particularly important during an outbreak, where healthcare workers and other high-risk groups are prioritized to receive the vaccine first.
The upcoming Emergency Committee meeting reflects WHO’s commitment to continuously evaluate the threat level posed by mpox, with the goal of adjusting response measures as needed to protect global health.
