Kenya battles rising mpox infections as WHO lifts global emergency
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral illness causing fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic rash that progresses to painful, pus-filled lesions.
Kenya continues to face rising mpox infections even as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared that the disease is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
The announcement came on Friday after the fifth meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, which reviewed the global outbreak and recommended to Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that the emergency status be lifted.
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"The Committee advised the Director-General, Dr Tedros, that the situation no longer represents an international health emergency. He accepted the advice. Lifting the emergency declaration does not mean the threat is over, as mpox outbreaks, including new ones, continue to be reported," the WHO statement read in part.
The Director-General explained that the decision followed evidence of a sustained decline in cases and deaths in heavily affected countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
He cautioned, however, that the disease remains present and countries must maintain vigilance.
“Mpox is still present, and countries must not let their guard down,” he said, urging the continuation of public health measures developed during the emergency phase.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral illness causing fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic rash that progresses to painful, pus-filled lesions.
The virus belongs to the same family as smallpox and spreads through close contact with infected individuals, animals, or contaminated materials.
While there is no cure, treatment is largely supportive. WHO renamed the disease in 2022 to reduce stigma associated with the previous name.
In Kenya, the disease remains a growing concern. Ministry of Health data indicate that more than 314 cases had been confirmed by early August 2025, spreading across 22 counties.
Later updates show the tally has risen past 330 cases in at least 24 counties, with Mombasa accounting for nearly half of the infections.
The coastal city, along with the Mombasa–Malaba transport corridor, has become a hotspot, with many cases linked to truck drivers, sex workers, and their close contacts. Several fatalities have also been reported, highlighting the ongoing threat despite the WHO’s declaration.
The global health agency has pledged continued support for Kenya and other African nations to prevent setbacks achieved during the emergency phase.
Meanwhile, the government has initiated vaccination campaigns in multiple counties to curb the spread of the disease.
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