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)
WHO Director-General declares mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (14 August 2024):
https://tinyurl.com/2mpbcrhh
Mpox: What you need to know about the latest public health emergency (UN News, 20 August 2024):
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1153361
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)
- Health Topics – Mpox (Monkeypox) – Overview, Symptoms, Treatment: https://www.who.int/health-topics/monkeypox
- 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 (23 August 2024): https://tinyurl.com/4r26heae
- 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
- 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
- Health Topics – Mpox (Monkeypox) – Overview, Symptoms, Treatment: https://www.who.int/health-topics/monkeypox
- WHO – Regional Office 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
- 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
- International Organization for Migration (IOM)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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 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
31 August 2024
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-mpox/