WHO Declares Mpox a Global Health Emergency Amid Surge in Cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern. Formerly known as monkeypox, the disease has claimed at least 450 lives during an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and has now spread to other parts of central and east Africa.

The WHO’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed deep concern about the rapid spread of a new variant of mpox and its high fatality rate. He stressed that a coordinated international response is crucial to halting the outbreak and saving lives.

Mpox is transmitted through close contact, such as sexual activity, skin-to-skin contact, and close conversation. The disease presents with flu-like symptoms, skin lesions, and can be fatal, with a mortality rate of approximately 4%. Although vaccines can prevent outbreaks, they are typically available only to those at high risk or those in close contact with an infected individual.

There are two primary types of mpox: Clade 1 and Clade 2. The recent emergency is attributed to Clade 1, which is far more deadly than the previously observed Clade 2 strain. Clade 1 has had a death rate of up to 10% in past outbreaks, and a new variant, Clade 1b, which emerged around September last year, has been described as “the most dangerous yet” due to its rapid spread.

Since the beginning of the year, the DRC has reported over 13,700 cases of mpox and at least 450 deaths. The disease has also been detected in other African countries, including Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya, and Rwanda.

The declaration of mpox as a public health emergency is expected to prompt increased research, funding, and international public health measures. Dr. Josie Golding of the Wellcome Trust and Dr. Boghuma Titanji from Emory University both emphasized the importance of this declaration in addressing the crisis. Prof. Trudie Lang of the University of Oxford acknowledged the timely nature of the declaration but highlighted that many unknowns still need to be addressed, particularly with the emergence of the new strain.

The previous outbreak of the milder Clade 2 strain in July 2022 spread to nearly 100 countries, including parts of Europe and Asia, resulting in over 87,000 cases and 140 deaths. That outbreak was largely contained through vaccination of vulnerable groups.

Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, has warned that the current outbreak could spiral out of control if immediate action is not taken. He called for proactive and aggressive efforts to contain and eliminate the threat.