For the second time in three years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that mpox, an infectious viral disease previously known as monkeypox, presented a global health emergency. The declaration was issued in August 2024 per the International Health Regulations, a legally binding agreement between 194 countries to help prevent and take measures to curb public health risks with the potential for international spread.
From COVID-19 to mpox, click on to learn more about the biggest public health emergencies in recent years.