The World Health Organization has officially declared an end to the global mpox public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), marking the successful conclusion of an 18-month international response effort that contained a multi-continent outbreak. The declaration comes as new case counts have fallen below 100 per week globally, down from a peak of over 5,000 weekly cases during the outbreak's height.
The end of the emergency was achieved through a combination of widespread vaccination, public health education, and community engagement, particularly among the populations most affected by the outbreak. Over 40 million doses of the Jynneos vaccine were administered globally, with targeted ring vaccination strategies proving highly effective at containing transmission chains.
Lessons for Pandemic Preparedness
"The mpox response demonstrated that when the international community acts swiftly and cooperatively, we can contain emerging health threats before they become catastrophic," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "But we must not become complacent. Mpox will continue to circulate at low levels, and ongoing surveillance and vaccination access are essential."
The response was not without criticism. Vaccine distribution was markedly unequal, with high-income countries securing the vast majority of initial supplies while African nations, where mpox has been endemic for decades, received doses much later. The WHO has called for reforms to the global health security architecture to ensure more equitable access to countermeasures during future outbreaks.
Public health experts note that the mpox response also highlighted the critical importance of destigmatizing disease. Early in the outbreak, misinformation and stigmatization of affected communities hindered testing and treatment-seeking behavior. The eventual success of community-led outreach programs underscored the lesson that effective public health responses must be built on trust, respect, and partnership with affected populations rather than top-down mandates.