Why WHO has declined to lift Mpox emergency status

Mpox outbreak was first determined to be a public health emergency of international concern by the Director-General on 14 August 2024. 

The ongoing mpox upsurge continues to meet the criteria of a public health emergency of international concern set forth in the international Health Regulations (IHR), the World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday. 

The announcement follows the third meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox, held on February 25. The Committee advised the Director-General to extend the public health emergency of international concern, based on the continuing rise in numbers and geographic spread, the violence in the eastern DR Congo—which hampers the response— as well as a lack of funding to implement the response plan. 

“The Director-General concurred with the Committee’s advice,” WHO said in a statement.

Kenya lastly confirmed one new Mpox case in Makueni three weeks ago, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 38.

Dr Tedros also concurred with and issued the Committee’s revised temporary recommendations to Member States experiencing mpox outbreaks. The recommendations guide countries’ efforts to prevent and control the spread of the disease. 

The full report of the meeting will be issued next week. 

The upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its spread to neighbouring countries was first determined to be a public health emergency of international concern by the Director-General on 14 August 2024. 

Kenya’s Ministry of  Health said the 38 cases have been reported across 12 counties as follows: Nakuru (10), Mombasa (8), Busia (4), Nairobi (2), Kajiado (2), Bungoma (2), Taita Taveta (2), Kericho (2), Makueni (2), Kilifi (2), Kiambu (1) and Uasin Gishu (1).

The ministry stated that a total of 255 contacts of the 38 cases have been identified, 246 of whom have been monitored for the recommended period of 21 days, while the others are still being monitored. Nine contacts have tested positive for Mpox so far.

"Additionally, over 3.2 million travellers have been screened at our airports and other points of entry, and suspected cases identified for further investigation," the ministry stated in a statement recently.

"Samples drawn from suspected cases are tested at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and partner laboratories. Accordingly, 412 samples from suspected cases have undergone testing of which 38 have tested positive and 374 samples have tested negative."

The ministry stated that it had put different interventions in place.

"The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the County Governments and its Partners has stepped up surveillance activities in all high-risk counties and has deployed rapid response teams (RRTs) to support active case search, contact listing, tracing, investigation, and symptomatic management of confirmed cases, including mental  health and psychosocial support to the infected and affected persons," it said.

"In addition, risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) activities are ongoing in the affected counties, to enhance public awareness and knowledge on Mpox prevention and control measures."

According to the statement, to mitigate the spread of Mpox disease in schools, the Ministry’s school health program has been working closely with the Ministry of Education to support infection prevention and control and other public health measures, to forestall any spread of cases in learning institutions.

The ministry urged health workers to remain vigilant with a high index of suspicion for Mpox and to adhere to recommended infection prevention and control measures.

The public has also been advised to adhere to public health preventive measures.

The measures include: avoiding close contact with infected individuals, using personal protective equipment such as gloves when caring for sick loved ones, not sharing bedding and clothing with sick people, practising hand hygiene by regularly washing hands with soap and water and reporting any suspected cases to your nearby health facility.