WHO Ends Mpox Emergency as CDC Investigates Potential Resurgence

On May 11, 2023, the WHO released a statement announcing the end of the global mpox public health emergency. Just days earlier, the CDC began investigating the potential resurgence of mpox in the United States. These contradicting actions pose questions about public health, transmission rates, and infection prevention.

On May 10, 2023, the WHO held a meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee regarding the global outbreak of mpox and the disease progression, noting a 90% reduction in mpox cases over the past three months.

Despite this claim, the CDC has recently begun investigating the growing number of cases in the US. A tweet by the CDC on May 10, 2023, said, “CDC is working with local and state health departments to investigate new mpox cases, some of which occurred in people who were vaccinated. Infection after vaccination is possible, but getting the two-dose vaccine makes getting it less likely.”

This investigation was based on multiple cases the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) identified. Across the 13 cases of mpox identified or suspected, nearly 70% of infected individuals had been vaccinated.

While the WHO has acknowledged that mpox infections may happen in fully vaccinated individuals against the disease, the committee does not believe it warrants a continued public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

Beyond that, the organization notes that, although the global rates have declined, many communities with limited access to vaccines and other preventative health measures have struggled to minimize infection rates. Even so, the WHO states that transitioning to a long-term strategic plan is more beneficial than a continued PHEIC.

With this goal in mind, the organization proposed a series of recommendations for managing mpox, including the following:

• Monitor mpox transmission and enforce prevention protocols
• Report travel-related conditions to the WHO
• Continue outreach to higher-risk patient populations
• Coordinate research agendas for improving treatment and prevention protocols