Reemerging mpox through an anthropological lens: centring context in public health preparedness and response

Abstract Objectives The aim is to illustrate the role of anthropology during the resurgence of monkeypox or “mpox”, which was declared a public health emergency, and requires comprehensive public health responses. Case presentation In this perspective article, I outline the relevance of medical anthropology in shaping effective public health responses to infectious disease outbreaks, while focusing on mpox. I discuss how a unique anthropological lens can illuminate the sociocultural, economic, and political conditions that exacerbate disease vulnerability and shape health outcomes. By moving beyond narrow biomedical models, I show the need and advocate for culturally sensitive, ethically grounded, and structurally informed interventions. Conclusions In this context, I argue for the continued importance of anthropology in navigating the complex interplay between biological and social worlds, which particularly impact health in times of crisis. Yet, this contribution comes at a time when anthropology itself faces institutional downsizing worldwide—posing a troubling contradiction between the field’s relevance and its marginalization.