UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Mpox

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What is mpox (monkeypox)? Mpox is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus. It is a viral infection which can spread between people, mainly through close contact, and occasionally from the environment to people via things and surfaces that have been touched by a person with mpox. In settings where the monkeypox virus is present among some wild animals, it can also be transmitted from infected animals to people who have contact with them.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) – Q&A on Mpox (monkeypox)

UN News Stories on Mpox:
https://news.un.org/en/tags/mpox

UN Video: Mpox – 5 Facts:
https://youtu.be/kINq2xSYGAo

UN Entities

• World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Mpox outbreak: https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/mpox-outbreak
    • Fifth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024 (30 October 2025): https://www.who.int/news/item/30-10-2025-fifth-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-upsurge-of-mpox-2024
      Concurring with the advice and considerations expressed by the Committee during the meeting, the WHO Director-General, on 5 September 2025, determined that the upsurge of mpox 2024 no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
    • Fourth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024 – Temporary recommendations (9 June 2025): https://www.who.int/news/item/09-06-2025-fourth-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-upsurge-of-mpox-2024-temporary-recommendations
    • Africa CDC and WHO update mpox strategy as outbreaks persist (17 April 2025): https://www.who.int/news/item/17-04-2025-africa-cdc-and-who-update-mpox-strategy-as-outbreaks-persist
    • Third meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024 – Temporary recommendations (27 February 2025): https://tinyurl.com/y6p8k7zu
    • WHO lists additional mpox diagnostic tests for emergency use (30 October 2024): https://www.who.int/news/item/30-10-2024-who-lists-additional-mpox-diagnostic-tests-for-emergency-use
    • WHO and partners activate Global Health Emergency Corps for the first time in response to mpox outbreak (29 October 2024): https://tinyurl.com/3k8fr295
    • WHO approves first mpox diagnostic test for emergency use, boosting global access (3 October 2024): https://www.who.int/news/item/03-10-2024-who-approves-first-mpox-diagnostic-test-for-emergency-use–boosting-global-access
    • WHO and partners establish an access and allocation mechanism for mpox vaccines, treatments, tests (13 September 2024): https://www.who.int/news/item/13-09-2024-who-and-partners-establish-an-access-and-allocation-mechanism-for-mpox-vaccines–treatments–tests
    • WHO prequalifies the first vaccine against mpox (13 September 2024): https://www.who.int/news/item/13-09-2024-who-prequalifies-the-first-vaccine-against-mpox
    • WHO urges rapid access to mpox diagnostic tests, invites manufacturers to emergency review (29 August 2024): https://www.who.int/news/item/29-08-2024-who-urges-rapid-access-to-mpox-diagnostic-tests–invites-manufacturers-to-emergency-review
    • WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at Member States information session on mpox – 23 August 2024: https://tinyurl.com/yzpa77bf
    • WHO Director-General declares mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (14 August 2024):
      https://tinyurl.com/2mpbcrhh
  • Health Topics – Mpox (Monkeypox) – Overview, Symptoms, Treatment: https://www.who.int/health-topics/monkeypox
  • Q&A on Mpox: https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/monkeypox
  • Public Advice on Mpox: https://www.who.int/news-room/public-advice
    • Gatherings in the context of the 2024 mpox outbreak: public health guidance (22 November 2024): https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/B09143
  • Infographics
    • Mpox – What we know: https://tinyurl.com/2p6486an
    • Getting tested for mpox – What you need to know: https://tinyurl.com/42bferf7
    • Mpox – What you need to know: https://tinyurl.com/2j55hpzb
  • Mpox (Monkeypox) outbreak toolbox: https://www.who.int/emergencies/outbreak-toolkit/disease-outbreak-toolboxes/mpox-outbreak-toolbox
  • Mpox IHR Emergency Committee 2024: https://www.who.int/groups/mpox-ihr-emergency-committee-2024
    • First meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024 (19 August 2024): https://tinyurl.com/mr2ddfba
  • Mpox global strategic preparedness and response plan, August 2024: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/mpox-global-strategic-preparedness-and-response-plan
  • WHO recommends new name for monkeypox disease (28 November 2022): https://www.who.int/news/item/28-11-2022-who-recommends-new-name-for-monkeypox-disease

• WHO – Regional Office for Africa
  • Health topics – Mpox (monkeypox): https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/mpox-monkeypox
  • Sustaining efforts to end mpox outbreaks in Africa (14 August 2025): https://www.afro.who.int/news/sustaining-efforts-end-mpox-outbreaks-africa
  • Africa Continental Mpox Surveillance Strategy (May 2026): https://africacdc.org/download/africa-continental-mpox-surveillance-strategy/
  • Protecting at-risk populations from mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (21 November 2024): https://www.afro.who.int/countries/democratic-republic-of-congo/news/protecting-risk-populations-mpox-democratic-republic-congo
  • Enhanced control measures helping to control mpox outbreak in Africa (21 November 2024): https://www.afro.who.int/news/enhanced-control-measures-helping-control-mpox-outbreak-africa
  • WHO, Africa CDC support 17 countries to develop mpox vaccination plans (9 November 2024): https://www.afro.who.int/news/who-africa-cdc-support-17-countries-develop-mpox-vaccination-plans
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo kicks off mpox vaccination (5 October 2024): https://www.afro.who.int/countries/democratic-republic-of-congo/news/democratic-republic-congo-kicks-mpox-vaccination
  • Decentralizing testing for rapid mpox detection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (4 October 2024): https://www.afro.who.int/countries/democratic-republic-of-congo/news/decentralizing-testing-rapid-mpox-detection-democratic-republic-congo
  • Kenya steps up surveillance, response measures to curb mpox (24 September 2024): https://www.afro.who.int/countries/kenya/news/kenya-steps-surveillance-response-measures-curb-mpox
  • South Africa makes strides in bid to contain mpox (17 September 2024): https://www.afro.who.int/countries/south-africa/news/south-africa-makes-strides-bid-contain-mpox
  • WHO delivers 14 tons of emergency supplies for mpox response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (7 September 2024): https://www.afro.who.int/countries/democratic-republic-of-congo/news/who-delivers-14-tons-emergency-supplies-mpox-response-democratic-republic-congo
  • Mpox Continental Preparedness and Response Plan for Africa: September 2024 – February 2025: https://africacdc.org/download/mpox-continental-preparedness-and-response-plan-for-africa/
  • Scaling up response to curb growing mpox outbreak in African region (15 August 2024): https://www.afro.who.int/news/scaling-response-curb-growing-mpox-outbreak-african-region
  • African region faces an unprecedent surge in mpox cases (8 August 2024): https://www.afro.who.int/news/african-region-faces-unprecedent-surge-mpox-cases

• WHO – Regional Office for Europe
  • Mpox – Overview & Recent outbreaks: https://www.who.int/europe/health-topics/monkeypox
  • Mpox recent outbreaks: https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/situations/monkeypox
  • Mpox (monkeypox) vaccination: https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/situations/monkeypox/monkeypox-vaccination
  • Responding to the ongoing mpox health threat: lessons from Berlin (5 May 2025): https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/05-05-2025-responding-to-the-ongoing-mpox-health-threat–lessons-from-berlin
  • First local transmissions of clade Ib mpox in the WHO European Region confirmed in the United Kingdom (5 November 2024): https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/05-11-2024-first-local-transmissions-of-clade-ib-mpox-in-the-who-european-region-confirmed-in-the-united-kingdom
  • Mpox: a test for global equity and call for elimination in the European Region – Statement by WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, 20 August 2024: https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/20-08-2024-statement—mpox–test-for-global-equity-and-call-for-elimination-in-the-european-region
  • New mobile friendly web tool with interactive dashboard gives individuals the information they need on monkeypox in advance of attending gatherings (23 August 2022): https://tinyurl.com/jd4ms28j

• Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). World Health Organization. Regional Office for the Americas
  • Situation Report on Mpox Multi-Country: Outbreak Response – Region of the Americas, Issue 2/2026, published 4 June 2026: https://www.paho.org/en/documents/situation-report-mpox-multi-country-outbreak-region-americas-june-2026
  • Misinformation, disinformation, and fake news amid the new global Mpox emergency (October 2024): https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/61817
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
  • Madagascar: Mpox Outbreak – Dec 2025: https://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2025-000230-mdg
  • Burundi: Mpox Outbreak – Aug 2024: https://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2024-000206-bdi
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
  • IOM Expands Support to Contain Mpox Threat in West and Central Africa (9 September 2025): https://www.iom.int/news/iom-expands-support-contain-mpox-threat-west-and-central-africa
  • IOM expands mpox appeal to reach migrants and IDPs across Africa (30 October 2024): https://www.iom.int/news/iom-expands-mpox-appeal-reach-migrants-and-idps-across-africa
  • IOM Multi-Country MPOX Preparedness and Response Plan for Africa – For migrants, internally displaced persons, highly mobile populations and host communities (September 2024 – February 2025): https://tinyurl.com/3cb8xaeh
  • IOM Regional Mpox Disease Outbreak Situation Report #1, 25 August 2024: https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-republic-congo/iom-regional-mpox-disease-outbreak-situation-report-1-25-august-2024
  • IOM appeals for USD 18.5 million to urgently aid Mpox-affected populations in East, Southern Africa (21 August 2024): https://www.iom.int/news/iom-appeals-usd-185-million-urgently-aid-mpox-affected-populations-east-southern-africa
  • IOM MPOX Preparedness and Response Plan East, Horn and Southern Africa (August 2024 – January 2025): https://eastandhornofafrica.iom.int/resources/mpox-preparedness-and-response-plan
• Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
  • UNAIDS calls for a rapid international response to mpox based on rights and an equitable access to vaccines and treatments (19 August 2024): https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2024/august/20240819_mpox
  • Pandemics are not fate: Concrete actions to tackle inequalities can overcome AIDS, Monkeypox and COVID-19 (10 August 2024): https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2022/august/20220810_pandemics-are-not-fate
  • UNAIDS calls for urgent global response to Monkeypox Public Health Emergency with rights-based public health and equitable access to vaccines (23 July 2022): https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2022/july/20220722_Monkeypox
  • UNAIDS warns that stigmatizing language on Monkeypox jeopardises public health
    (22 May 2022): https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2022/may/20220522_PR_Monkeypox

• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  • UNHCR urgently appeals for funds to reinforce health services amid mpox emergency (11 September 2024): https://www.unhcr.org/news/press-releases/unhcr-urgently-appeals-funds-reinforce-health-services-amid-mpox-emergency
  • Mpox Emergency: Addressing critical needs of forcibly displaced people in Africa, August – December 2024: https://reporting.unhcr.org/mpox-emergency-addressing-critical-needs-forcibly-displaced-people-africa
  • How is the mpox outbreak impacting refugees and displaced people? (6 September 2024): https://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/how-mpox-outbreak-impacting-refugees-and-displaced-people
  • Concerned over impact of mpox on refugees and displaced in Africa, UNHCR calls for inclusion and international solidarity (27 August 2024): https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/concerned-over-impact-mpox-refugees-and-displaced-africa-unhcr-calls-inclusion
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
  • Children account for half of suspected mpox cases in Guinea-Bissau (20 August 2026): https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/children-account-half-suspected-mpox-cases-guinea-bissau
  • UNICEF signs mpox vaccine deal at lowest market price for 77 low- and lower-middle-income countries (26 September 2024): https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-signs-mpox-vaccine-deal-lowest-market-price-77-low-and-lower-middle-income
  • Burundi’s children hit hard by mpox (20 September 2024): https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/burundis-children-hit-hard-mpox
  • One-third of mpox cases in Burundi among school-age children: UNICEF scales up efforts to address mpox as children head back to school across the country (17 September 2024): https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/one-third-mpox-cases-burundi-among-school-age-children-unicef
  • UNICEF appeals for US$58.8 million to address mpox crisis as cases among children rise (16 September 2024): https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-appeals-us588-million-address-mpox-crisis-cases-among-children-rise
  • UNICEF scales up efforts to protect children from mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – UNICEF’s response plan prioritizes children under 15 years in 12 provinces (12 September 2024): https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-scales-efforts-protect-children-mpox-outbreak-democratic-republic-congo
  • UNICEF issues emergency tender to secure mpox vaccines for crisis-hit countries in collaboration with Africa CDC, Gavi and WHO – Joint news note (31 August 2024): https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-issues-emergency-tender-secure-mpox-vaccines-crisis-hit-countries
  • Mpox and children: A new variant of the mpox (monkeypox) virus is spreading, putting children at risk (28 August 2024): https://www.unicef.org/stories/mpox-and-children
  • Mpox outbreak raises alarm in Eastern and Southern Africa as cases increase among children – UNICEF: Concerns over new public health emergency rise as communities grapple with other ongoing crises (22 August 2024): https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/mpox-outbreak-raises-alarm-eastern-and-southern-africa-cases-increase-among-children
  • Children at significant risk from surging mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – UNICEF: New variant adds extra burden for children and families living through conflict and displacement (16 August 2024): https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/children-significant-risk-surging-mpox-outbreak-democratic-republic-congo-unicef

• World Bank
  • Response to the Mpox Epidemic: Interview with Dr. Michel Muvudi on the World Bank’s Strategic Role in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (8 October 2024): https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2024/10/08/response-to-the-mpox-epidemic-interview-with-dr-michel-muvudi-on-the-world-banks-strategic-role-in-afe-drc

• World Food Programme (WFP)
  • WFP launches emergency food assistance for Mpox-affected people across Liberia (13 March 2026): https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-launches-emergency-food-assistance-mpox-affected-people-across-liberia
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo kicks off mpox vaccination (5 October 2024): https://www.afro.who.int/countries/democratic-republic-of-congo/news/democratic-republic-congo-kicks-mpox-vaccination

20 August 2026
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-mpox/