Chair, Professor Dimie Ogoina,
Our vice-chair, rapporteur, committee members, and advisors.
Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,
Thank you for joining us once again.
I thank the representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Uganda and the United Kingdom who are joining us today.
And thank you to all countries who provided updates ahead of this meeting. Thank you for your commitment to transparency.
As you know, in August last year, on your advice, I declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern.
At the time, the world was facing growing transmission, international spread within and beyond Africa, and uncertainty about how new virus strains would progress.
Since then, significant progress has been made, which you will hear about today from the WHO Secretariat.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains the epicentre, where all clades are circulating, with transmissions in the East and in urban areas such as Kinshasa.
Over the last year, clade Ib outbreaks have expanded in neighbouring countries and within the DRC, with cases linked to travel reported in every WHO region.
Additionally, this year has seen an upsurge of clade II outbreaks in West Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone and neighbouring Liberia and Guinea.
In 2025, over 90% of mpox cases have been reported from Africa, with nearly 32 000 cases and 137 deaths, the majority of which were reported from the DRC, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Thankfully, trends have started to come down, with notable improvements in the DRC, and sustained declines in the most affected countries including Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
However, the presence of multiple virus clades across countries with different population groups highlight the complex dynamics of mpox.
The possibility of continued flare-ups remains, requiring adequate surveillance and response capacity.
And while deaths have also declined in endemic areas, and remained relatively low elsewhere, young children with mpox and immunocompromised individuals are still at increased risk due to complications from mpox.
Ongoing efforts are needed to protect the most vulnerable groups, particularly children and people living with HIV.
WHO, Africa CDC and other partners have maintained a coordinated emergency response, enabling significant progress.
Countries have implemented temporary recommendations, are building capacity to reduce transmission, and working to address stigma and help people access testing and care.
Diagnostics capacity has continued to expand in affected countries, enabling faster detection of outbreaks.
In DRC, for example, the number of testing sites has increased from 9 to 28.
Nearly six million vaccines have been pledged. So far, more than three million doses have been delivered to 12 countries. Just under one million doses have been administered.
Clinical guidance, IPC and WASH tools, and large-scale training have been rolled out, alongside expanded home-based care where facilities are overwhelmed.
WHO and partners have trained hundreds of community health workers, countered misinformation, and tailored risk communication to vulnerable groups, including sex workers and displaced populations.
We are also working to support the integration of mpox into routine health systems for a sustained response, including into HIV, STI, and sexual health programmes.
We still face significant challenges going forward with mpox clades that will continue to circulate.
First, mpox clades will continue to circulate.
Second, diagnostics and surveillance remain patchy.
Third, response capacities are under strain from limited funding.
Fourth, funding and delivery bottlenecks constrain vaccination impact.
And fifth, community engagement requires sustained investment and local partner coordination.
WHO and partners are working to mitigate these risks and sustain support to countries under the Strategic Framework for enhancing mpox prevention and control.
However financial resources are still very much needed to support this work.
Standing recommendations for mpox have been extended for another year, until August 2026, to support Member States worldwide.
Now I seek your advice on the status of the emergency under the International Health Regulations, and on updated temporary recommendations to guide the most affected countries.
While coordinated action has or limited wider global spread, continued vigilance, resource mobilisation, and strong collaboration with international, regional and local partners are essential to sustain momentum and protect global health security.
We must maintain our collective focus, sense of urgency, and continue to build on the progress made.
Once again, thank you for committing your time and expertise to this very important process. I look forward to your advice.
I thank you.