Global Mpox Health Emergency

The WHO declared a second global health emergency over mpox in August 2024, and the outbreak continued to spread into 2025, particularly through Central and East Africa with a new, more transmissible clade Ib strain. Over 60 countries reported cases by mid-2025, surpassing the COVID-19 Omicron variant's geographic spread at a similar stage by 15%, prompting accelerated vaccination campaigns. The event renewed debate about global pandemic preparedness infrastructure after COVID-19.