WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has declared the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and several African countries a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005). This declaration was made based on advice from an IHR Emergency Committee of independent experts who reviewed data presented by WHO and affected countries. The committee considered the mpox outbreak a PHEIC with the potential to spread further across Africa and possibly beyond. Dr. Tedros emphasized the need for a coordinated international response to stop the outbreaks and save lives. The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, noted that significant efforts are already underway to curb mpox, and the organization is scaling up international action to support countries in ending the outbreaks. The PHEIC determination is the second related to mpox in two years, following a similar declaration in July 2022. The current outbreak is particularly concerning due to the emergence of a new virus strain, clade 1b, which appears to be spreading mainly through sexual networks. Over 100 laboratory-confirmed cases of clade 1b have been reported in four neighboring countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. WHO is working with countries and vaccine manufacturers to facilitate equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other tools, and has requested an initial funding of US$15 million to support surveillance, preparedness, and response activities.WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has declared the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and several African countries a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005). This declaration was made based on advice from an IHR Emergency Committee of independent experts who reviewed data presented by WHO and affected countries. The committee considered the mpox outbreak a PHEIC with the potential to spread further across Africa and possibly beyond. Dr. Tedros emphasized the need for a coordinated international response to stop the outbreaks and save lives. The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, noted that significant efforts are already underway to curb mpox, and the organization is scaling up international action to support countries in ending the outbreaks. The PHEIC determination is the second related to mpox in two years, following a similar declaration in July 2022. The current outbreak is particularly concerning due to the emergence of a new virus strain, clade 1b, which appears to be spreading mainly through sexual networks. Over 100 laboratory-confirmed cases of clade 1b have been reported in four neighboring countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. WHO is working with countries and vaccine manufacturers to facilitate equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other tools, and has requested an initial funding of US$15 million to support surveillance, preparedness, and response activities.