Okay,here’s a revised and updated version of the provided text,incorporating verification of claims and correcting inaccuracies as of today,January 12,2026. I’ve focused on updating the status of Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) and the global response.
—
## Mpox: Global Update – January 12, 2026
The global health landscape continues to monitor the ongoing circulation of Mpox. while the large outbreak of 2022-2023 has subsided, the virus has not been eradicated and continues to circulate, primarily in Central and West Africa, where it is indeed considered endemic. A “ring” vaccination strategy, focused around confirmed cases, remains a key component of manny national control plans – a proportionate approach designed to quickly contain transmission chains without resorting to broad and restrictive measures.
Mpox epidemic: international update
Mpox: health vigilance remains crucial
Beyond Africa, sporadic cases and localized outbreaks of Mpox continue to be reported globally, linked primarily to international travel and specific high-risk networks. The World Health Association (WHO) declared the end of the global health emergency in May 2023, but emphasizes that Mpox remains a public health issue requiring sustained vigilance.the risk is no longer that of a widespread pandemic, but of localized re-emergences and sustained transmission within specific populations, requiring a rapid and proportionate response.
Mpox epidemic: what measures have been taken in different countries?
Countries have adapted their health strategies, generally focusing on the following:
- In Central and West Africa (particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Cameroon), authorities are strengthening epidemiological surveillance, case management, and vaccination programs (using the JYNNEOS vaccine) despite ongoing challenges with healthcare infrastructure. Efforts are also focused on addressing the zoonotic origins of the virus and reducing animal-to-human transmission.
- In the united Kingdom, surveillance of imported cases remains active, with monitoring of travelers and continued vaccination recommendations for high-risk individuals, including men who have sex with men (MSM).
- in the United States, health authorities maintain mandatory reporting, isolation guidance for confirmed cases, and targeted vaccination programs, prioritizing those at highest risk. The CDC continues to provide updated guidance on prevention and treatment.
- In Europe, the majority of countries have adopted a similar approach: early detection through enhanced surveillance, public health details campaigns, targeted vaccination, and contact tracing, avoiding generalized travel restrictions. Many countries now integrate Mpox surveillance into existing sexually transmitted infection (STI) monitoring programs.
NAMELY
The virus was first identified in 1958 in laboratory monkeys, with the first documented human case occurring in 1970 in the Democratic republic of Congo, following the eradication of human smallpox. Mpox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. The West African clade of the virus, which was responsible for the 2022-2023 outbreak, generally causes less severe illness than the Congo Basin clade.
