The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded a fresh alarm over the global spread of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), following the detection of a new strain clade Ib in several countries beyond Africa, including nations in Europe and Asia. The health agency’s latest update underscores growing concern about the virus’s ability to spread internationally and establish local transmission chains outside endemic regions.
The warning was issued in WHO’s 59th Situation Report on the multi-country mpox outbreak, covering global data up to 30 September 2025 and regional updates in Africa through October 2025. According to the report, WHO will now release situation updates monthly as part of its strengthened surveillance and response framework.
The data reveals that in September 2025 alone, 42 countries across all WHO regions confirmed 3,135 new mpox cases and 12 deaths, representing a case fatality ratio of 0.4%. Notably, over 80% of these infections originated from Africa, where the disease remains endemic.
While the African Region, along with the Eastern Mediterranean, Americas, and Western Pacific, recorded a slight decline in new cases, both Europe and South-East Asia witnessed an uptick in infections, suggesting a shifting geographical trend that WHO officials find worrying.
WHO confirmed that seventeen African countries experienced ongoing transmission between 14 September and 19 October 2025, reporting 2,862 confirmed infections and 17 deaths, yielding a case fatality ratio of 0.6%. Among the most affected nations are the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Liberia, Kenya, and Ghana.
The DRC, which has long battled mpox outbreaks, showed signs of a steady decline in cases. However, Kenya and Liberia are currently witnessing upward trends, while Ghana is seeing early indications of stabilization.
For the first time, Malaysia, Namibia, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain have all reported detections of the clade Ib variant, marking the spread of this new strain beyond the African continent. Imported cases linked to clade Ib have also been recorded among travelers in Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Qatar, and Spain, indicating that international travel continues to drive transmission.
More concerning is that six countries Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United States have now reported local transmission of the clade Ib strain among people with no travel history to Africa, confirming the onset of community-level spread.
WHO’s analysis shows at least five cases of clade Ib mpox detected among men who have sex with men (MSM) a population previously affected by the clade IIb strain that circulated globally in 2022. This development marks the first evidence of clade Ib circulating within this group, raising specific public health concerns.
The WHO currently classifies the public health risk from this new strain as moderate among MSM populations and low for the general population in non-endemic countries. However, the agency warns that as long as human-to-human transmission remains active, the virus could establish sustained community spread, posing a renewed threat to global health security.
“Until the chain of transmission is broken, the potential for community-level outbreaks remains significant,” the report cautioned.
Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, known for causing symptoms such as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Although most infections are mild and self-limiting, the illness can become severe or fatal, particularly among children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Initially confined to Central and West Africa, mpox gained international attention in 2022 when widespread outbreaks reached multiple continents. The virus is transmitted through close contact with infected persons or animals, as well as via contaminated materials.
WHO experts emphasize that the rise of the clade Ib strain signals a new phase in the virus’s evolution, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced global surveillance, early diagnosis, and vaccination where available. Countries are being encouraged to maintain rapid response mechanisms, strengthen laboratory capacities, and share genomic data to track emerging variants.
The WHO reiterated its call for international collaboration to prevent mpox from becoming a recurring global health emergency. Member states are urged to intensify public awareness campaigns, especially in high-risk communities, and ensure equitable access to treatment and vaccines.
Despite improved detection and reporting systems, experts fear that complacency in non-endemic regions could lead to silent spread. “We must not wait until we have another global emergency,” WHO warned, emphasizing the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and earlier mpox waves.
With new local infections surfacing across continents, health authorities worldwide are now racing to contain the clade Ib strain before it becomes a global health threat.
