Since the beginning of 2022, mpox cases have been reported to the WHO from 116 Member States across all 6 WHO regions. On 23 July 2022, with cases continuing to rise sharply, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation determined that the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
As of 31 May 2024, a total of 97 745 laboratory confirmed cases and 535 probable cases, incl. 203 deaths, had been reported to the WHO. A new variant of mpox, which spreads more easily via physical contact, has experts worried.
It is important to be aware of what the mpox outbreaks mean for public health, and what must be done to prevent infections and care for those who are ill. To that end, this One Health toolkit, produced by EJN's sister network, the Health Journalism Network, provides a set of tools and resources to help journalists report on the mpox outbreaks.
This resource includes suggestions for how journalists can report on mpox through a One Health lens, highlighting the interconnections between the health of humans, animals and the environment.
*Consult a tracker like this one from the CDC for the latest figures, as the situation may change rapidly.