# WHO Declares “Mpox” (Formerly Monkeypox) an International Health Emergency Again
On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the current outbreak of mpox—previously known as monkeypox—as an international public health emergency due to its spread across multiple countries. This marks the second instance in two years that WHO has classified this infectious disease as a potential global health threat.
The previous international alert by WHO was issued in May 2023, after the initial outbreak was contained and deemed under control. However, the resurgence of mpox, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has now raised concerns as cases have begun appearing across Europe and North America.
Prior to the declaration of this new emergency, WHO reported various mpox outbreaks in Africa, each involving different variants, modes of transmission, and levels of risk. “This is something that should concern us all […] The possibility of further spread beyond Africa and elsewhere is very worrying,” remarked Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, from Geneva, Switzerland.
“To stop these outbreaks, a tailored and global response will be necessary, with communities at the center,” he added as the WHO’s Emergency Committee convened to evaluate the situation and provide guidance.
Mpox, considered an international health emergency, has spread through several African countries and beyond, affecting a multitude of regions between 2022 and 2023. The current major hotspot is the DRC, reporting 14,000 cases and 524 deaths so far in 2024. The disease has infiltrated new provinces in the country and has surfaced in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
First discovered in humans in 1970 in what is now the DRC, mpox was initially spread through contact with animals. It is a viral disease transmitted mainly through direct or indirect contact with infected animals’ blood, bodily fluids, or sores.
A significant mpox outbreak in 2022, driven by clade 2, reached over 100 countries, causing 140 deaths out of 90,000 cases. Africa faces a new strain, Clade Ib, detected in the DRC in September 2023. This strain is more deadly and transmissible, causing notably widespread skin rashes.
In a move to address stigmatization, WHO announced on November 28, 2022, that monkeypox would henceforth be called “mpox” globally. Meanwhile, the United States declared its mpox outbreak a public health emergency on August 4, 2022, with President Joe Biden appointing federal officials to coordinate the response.
**Additional News:**
Authorities in the U.S. continue to monitor the situation closely, highlighting that the mpox virus can survive on surfaces and materials for extended periods. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, mpox can live from days to weeks in water, soil, and refrigerated food. The virus is resilient in the environment, capable of existing for months or years in the scabs of infected individuals.
While common disinfectants’ effectiveness against mpox remains undetermined, cleaning surfaces with chlorine solutions is recommended. The virus, transmitted through respiratory secretions and intimate contact such as kissing and sexual activities, can also be passed from pregnant women to their fetuses.
In the backdrop of the international health emergency, global health organizations and governments are intensifying their efforts to curtail the spread of mpox through targeted responses and public awareness campaigns.