• The WHO has lifted the international health emergency status for mpox.
• Continued outbreaks in African countries have led the Africa CDC to maintain a continental emergency declaration.
• Countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda have seen declines in mpox cases.
• Experts stress the importance of ongoing vigilance and resource allocation despite the lifted emergency status.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that mpox no longer represents a global health emergency, with Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus indicating a sustained decline in cases and deaths across multiple affected countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. This decision follows advice from the WHO's emergency committee, which assessed the outbreak's status during a meeting on September 5, 2025, according to Dawn and Channel News Asia.

However, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) maintains that mpox constitutes a public health emergency on the continent, following reports of surges in cases in countries such as Ghana, Liberia, and Kenya. The consultative group recommended that the current status remain to safeguard resources and avoid complacency, as new cases have been recorded in Malawi and Ethiopia, according to Africa News and Al Jazeera.

Despite the lifting of the global emergency, Dr. Tedros emphasized that lifting the declaration does not lower the urgency around the disease. "This decision does not mean the threat is over, nor that our response will stop," he stated during the announcement, reiterating the need for continued investments in public health measures, as highlighted by experts in the field, according to TRT Global and Africa News.

The mpox virus, which has historically been endemic in parts of Africa, poses a dual threat with its ability to spread through close contact and its potential to cause severe symptoms in vulnerable populations. The Africa CDC has called for increased surveillance and investigation into mpox-related deaths, especially among children, as outbreaks continue in various regions, according to AA and Al Jazeera.