WHO Warns of Surging Mpox Spread Across Africa and Beyond

Geneva, Switzerland — November 1, 2025

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over the accelerating spread of mpox across Africa and several new regions worldwide, warning that the situation poses an increasing global health threat if not urgently addressed.

In a statement released by the agency, 17 African countries have reported active mpox cases within the past six weeks, underscoring a concerning resurgence of the viral disease once thought to be under control. Between September 14 and October 19, the WHO documented 2,862 confirmed infections and 17 deaths across affected regions.

Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox has also expanded beyond Africa with the first confirmed cases in Malaysia, Namibia, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain — signaling the virus’s growing international reach.
The WHO’s latest assessment urges countries to intensify surveillance, expand vaccine access, and strengthen infection prevention and control measures, particularly in high-risk communities.
“The current trend is deeply concerning. The increasing number of infections across multiple regions highlights the need for a coordinated, global response,” the WHO said in its statement.
Health experts warn that delayed action could allow mpox to establish itself more broadly, complicating eradication efforts and straining already burdened health systems.

The WHO emphasized that containment now depends on early detection, community awareness, and equitable vaccine distribution, especially in countries where public health resources remain limited.
As mpox continues its steady spread, global cooperation and preparedness have become critical to preventing a wider outbreak — a test, the WHO noted, of the world’s ability to act decisively in the face of emerging infectious threats.