The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Mpox outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern, according to reporting from the BBC. This decision comes as hundreds have been killed by the highly contagious disease, formerly known as monkeypox, during an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The emergence of a new clade of #Mpox, its rapid spread in eastern #DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries are very worrying.
On top of outbreaks of other Mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it's clear that a coordinated international… pic.twitter.com/u2DSV6fitj
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 14, 2024
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed grave concern about the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond. "A coordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives," he stated to the BBC.
The current outbreak, caused by the more lethal Clade 1 strain of Mpox, has resulted in over 13,700 cases and at least 450 deaths in the DRC since the start of the year. The virus has subsequently been detected in other African countries, including Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya, and Rwanda.
Mpox, which is transmitted through close contact, such as sex and skin-to-skin interaction, causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions. It can be fatal, with four in 100 cases leading to death. While outbreaks can be controlled with vaccines, these are typically only available for high-risk individuals or those in close contact with infected persons.
Scientists are particularly alarmed by a new variant, Clade 1b, which emerged around September last year due to mutations. This variant has been described by one scientist as "the most dangerous yet" and is spreading rapidly.
The declaration of Mpox as a global health emergency is expected to accelerate research, funding, and the implementation of international public health measures. Dr Josie Golding from the Wellcome Trust called it a "strong signal," while Dr Boghuma Titanji of Emory University said the move "underscores the gravity of the crisis." Professor Trudie Lang, director of the Global Health Network at the University of Oxford, said that the declaration was "important and timely" but noted that the emergence of a new strain meant there were "many unknowns that need to be addressed."
This current outbreak follows a previous global health emergency declared in July 2022 for the milder Clade 2 strain, which spread to nearly 100 countries and resulted in over 87,000 cases and 140 deaths.
On Tuesday, scientists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also declared a public health emergency. The organization's head, Jean Kaseya, warned that the current outbreak could spiral out of control without immediate containment efforts. "We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat," Kaseya stated.
