The World Health Organization (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 follows a recommendation from an independent IHR Emergency Committee, which reviewed data from WHO and affected countries. The Committee concluded that the mpox outbreak could spread further across Africa and possibly beyond. The Director-General will share the Committee's report and issue temporary recommendations to countries. Dr. Tedros emphasized the worrying spread of a new mpox clade in eastern DRC and the emergence of cases in neighboring countries. He stressed the need for a coordinated international response to control outbreaks and save lives. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, noted that significant efforts are underway with communities and governments to curb mpox. The Committee Chair, Professor Dimie Ogoina, highlighted the global concern over the new sexually transmissible strain of the virus, which originated in Africa and caused a global outbreak in 2022. This is the second PHEIC declaration related to mpox in two years. Mpox, caused by an Orthopoxvirus, was first detected in the DRC in 1970 and is endemic to central and western Africa. In 2022, a multi-country outbreak was declared a PHEIC and was resolved in 2023 after a decline in cases. The DRC has reported mpox cases for over a decade, with a steady increase in cases. Last year, cases surged, and this year's numbers already exceed last year's total. A new mpox strain, clade 1b, has emerged in the DRC and is spreading mainly through sexual networks. Over 100 confirmed cases of clade 1b have been reported in neighboring countries. The WHO is working with countries and vaccine manufacturers to facilitate equitable access to vaccines and other tools. The organization anticipates an immediate funding requirement of $15 million to support surveillance and response activities.The World Health Organization (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 follows a recommendation from an independent IHR Emergency Committee, which reviewed data from WHO and affected countries. The Committee concluded that the mpox outbreak could spread further across Africa and possibly beyond. The Director-General will share the Committee's report and issue temporary recommendations to countries. Dr. Tedros emphasized the worrying spread of a new mpox clade in eastern DRC and the emergence of cases in neighboring countries. He stressed the need for a coordinated international response to control outbreaks and save lives. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, noted that significant efforts are underway with communities and governments to curb mpox. The Committee Chair, Professor Dimie Ogoina, highlighted the global concern over the new sexually transmissible strain of the virus, which originated in Africa and caused a global outbreak in 2022. This is the second PHEIC declaration related to mpox in two years. Mpox, caused by an Orthopoxvirus, was first detected in the DRC in 1970 and is endemic to central and western Africa. In 2022, a multi-country outbreak was declared a PHEIC and was resolved in 2023 after a decline in cases. The DRC has reported mpox cases for over a decade, with a steady increase in cases. Last year, cases surged, and this year's numbers already exceed last year's total. A new mpox strain, clade 1b, has emerged in the DRC and is spreading mainly through sexual networks. Over 100 confirmed cases of clade 1b have been reported in neighboring countries. The WHO is working with countries and vaccine manufacturers to facilitate equitable access to vaccines and other tools. The organization anticipates an immediate funding requirement of $15 million to support surveillance and response activities.