The latest global picture of monkeypox shows continued activity across regions, underscoring the importance of steady surveillance and sustained public health response. By early October, the World Health Organization reported a total of 68,998 laboratory-confirmed cases and 3,203 suspected cases in addition to confirmed infections, with 26 deaths linked to the outbreak. These figures highlight ongoing transmission and the need for vigilance and coordinated action worldwide.
Across the week, overall worldwide case counts declined by about 16.8 percent, from 3,662 new cases in the prior week to 3,046 in the 39th week (September 26 to October 2). The Americas Region accounted for the majority of recent activity, representing roughly 85 percent of reported cases, while the European Region contributed about 13 percent. Together, these two regions carried the lion’s share of cases during this period, signaling shifting transmission patterns and the necessity for continued, regionally tailored public health measures. Attribution: World Health Organization.
Within the countries most affected during the period, the United States led with 25,672 cases, followed by Brazil with 7,869; Spain with 7,209; France with 3,999; the United Kingdom with 3,654; Germany with 3,631; Peru with 2,587; Colombia with 2,042; Mexico with 1,627; and Canada with 1,400. Taken together, these ten nations accounted for about 86.5 percent of all reported cases globally during the timeframe, illustrating how outbreaks tend to concentrate within large, interconnected health systems. Attribution: World Health Organization.
In the most recent seven days, 26 countries showed a rise in cases, with the largest increase occurring in Nigeria. Conversely, 38 countries did not report new cases in the past 21 days, indicating periods of reduced transmission in some regions. Vietnam reported its first case in seven days during this window, reflecting the uneven reach of the outbreak and the ongoing need for monitoring across diverse settings. Attribution: World Health Organization.
Overall, the global risk level was assessed as moderate by the health authorities. Regional assessments showed high risk in the European and the Americas Regions, moderate risk in the African, Eastern Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia Regions, and low to moderate risk in the Western Pacific Region. These varying risk levels reflect differences in surveillance capacity, access to care, vaccination coverage, and public health response across areas. Attribution: World Health Organization.
The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee convened to address the multinational monkeypox outbreak held its second meeting on July 21, 2022. Guided by committee members and advisors, and in accordance with IHR (2005), the health leadership designated the situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and issued interim recommendations to guide international action, surveillance, and coordination among nations. Attribution: World Health Organization.