Mpox Declared Over in Africa: What You Need to Know
- Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral zoonosis (a disease that spreads from animals to humans) that can also be transmitted through close physical contact.
- Symptoms typically include fever, muscle aches, and a characteristic rash.
- Mpox is transmitted through close contact with the virus, which can be found in skin lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials.
Mpox (Monkeypox) - overview
Table of Contents
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral zoonosis (a disease that spreads from animals to humans) that can also be transmitted through close physical contact. The World Health Institution (WHO) defines it as a viral infection most commonly found in central and west Africa.
Symptoms typically include fever, muscle aches, and a characteristic rash. While infections are usually mild, they can be severe, particularly in young children and individuals with compromised immune systems.
Transmission and Symptoms
Mpox is transmitted through close contact with the virus, which can be found in skin lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) details the various transmission routes, including direct contact with the rash, scabs, or body fluids, and through respiratory secretions during prolonged face-to-face contact.
Initial symptoms include fever,headache,muscle aches,backache,swollen lymph nodes,chills,and exhaustion. Within one to three days after the fever starts, a rash typically appears, frequently enough beginning on the face and spreading to other parts of the body. The rash progresses through stages – macules (flat spots), papules (raised bumps), vesicles (fluid-filled blisters), and pustules (pus-filled blisters) – before scabbing over.
Global Health Emergency & Current Status (as of January 25, 2026)
In May 2022, a multi-country outbreak of mpox prompted the WHO to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The declaration was made on july 23, 2022, reflecting the rapid international spread and potential for further escalation.
However,as of September 11,2023,the WHO announced that the global health emergency for mpox had been lifted. This decision was based on a sustained decline in reported cases worldwide.
As of January 25,2026,there have been no further declarations of a global health emergency regarding mpox. The WHO continues to monitor the situation and provide guidance to member states, but the outbreak is currently considered contained, although sporadic cases continue to be reported globally. The CDC provides updated case counts and epidemiological data.
- World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/