The WHO lifts the mpox public health emergency after a coordinated global vaccination campaign reduces active cases by 95% across affected regions.
The World Health Organization has officially declared the end of the mpox public health emergency of international concern, marking a significant milestone in global infectious disease response. The announcement comes after a coordinated international vaccination campaign that reduced active cases by 95% across previously affected regions in Central and West Africa.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, praised the collaborative effort between international health agencies, national governments, and pharmaceutical manufacturers that enabled rapid deployment of vaccines to high-risk populations. The response demonstrated the value of lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic in building more agile public health infrastructure.
The vaccination campaign, which reached over 15 million individuals across 47 countries, utilized a ring vaccination strategy targeting close contacts of confirmed cases. This approach, combined with enhanced surveillance systems, proved highly effective at containing transmission chains before they could establish sustained community spread.
The MVA-BN vaccine, manufactured by Bavarian Nordic, was the primary tool deployed during the emergency response. Originally developed as a smallpox vaccine, it demonstrated strong cross-protection against mpox with a two-dose regimen. Efficacy data from field studies showed 85% protection against symptomatic mpox infection after the second dose, with protection remaining robust across the clade I and clade II variants circulating during the outbreak.
Genomics played a crucial role in the response. Real-time sequencing of viral samples enabled researchers to track the evolution of the virus and identify mutations that could affect vaccine efficacy. Fortunately, the circulating strains remained susceptible to the available vaccines throughout the outbreak period. The Africa CDC's Pathogen Genomics Initiative, established during the response, now sequences samples from over 30 African countries and has become a cornerstone of the continent's biosurveillance capacity.
The success of the mpox response has prompted calls for sustained investment in health infrastructure across Africa. Many of the surveillance systems and laboratory networks established during the outbreak continue to operate, providing broader infectious disease monitoring capabilities that extend well beyond mpox. The WHO estimates that infrastructure improvements made during the mpox response have strengthened early warning systems for at least a dozen other infectious disease threats.
International cooperation was essential to the outcome. The COVAX-style distribution mechanism adapted for mpox vaccines ensured that doses reached countries with the greatest need rather than the highest purchasing power. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and CEPI coordinated procurement and logistics, while Doctors Without Borders and other NGOs facilitated delivery in conflict-affected regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding nations.
Public health experts caution that while the emergency phase has ended, ongoing vigilance is essential. Endemic transmission continues at low levels in parts of Central Africa, and maintaining vaccination coverage in high-risk populations remains a priority. The WHO has issued updated guidelines for continued surveillance and rapid response protocols, emphasizing the need for sustained funding to prevent a resurgence.
The mpox emergency response is now being studied as a model for future outbreak management. Key lessons include the importance of pre-positioned vaccine stockpiles, the value of genomic surveillance for tracking pathogen evolution, the effectiveness of ring vaccination in containing outbreaks, and the critical role of community engagement in ensuring vaccine acceptance.