The World Health Organization has declared mpox a global public health emergency after an outbreak of the viral disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo spread to a dozen other African countries. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the threat of cross-border spread remains high.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: “It’s clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives. A public health emergency of international concern is the highest level of alarm under international health law.”