WHO Declares Mpox Clade 1b Outbreak in Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

On 14 August 2024 the WHO declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern, driven by the more transmissible and deadlier clade 1b in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. African cases are up 160% this year, with about 500 deaths and 70% of cases among children. A US case-control study in the New England Journal of Medicine found JYNNEOS effectiveness of about 35.8% after one dose and about 66% after two, supporting layered protection.