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.

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The Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund dedicated on Thursday a grove near Jerusalem in honor of President of the Republic of the Congo Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, who was visiting Israel.

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Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund, which has had a special role in preserving the state's natural habitat for decades, dedicated part of the Jerusalem Forest for this honor, calling it a "brand-new grove."

According to the organization, the ceremony "marks the strong bond that the state of Israel holds with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The event was attended by the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chairman of the Union of African States – Felix Tshisekedi, and KKL-JNF's Global Chairman, Avraham Duvdevani."

The statement went on to say that "The President of JNF Belgium, Yaakov Ben Zino, initiated the planting of the new grove in recognition of the strong friendship KKL-JNF shares with the Congo, and with JNF's branch in South Africa."

The organization stressed that "the president's visit is expected to strengthen cooperation between the State of Israel and the Congo, including the increase of cooperation between KKL-JNF and various African countries," the statement continued.

At the ceremony, President Tshisekedi said: "We are eager to learn from you on how to make the wilderness flourish. Africa is the continent that contributes the least to fighting climate change, but it is the one that needs help the most - and Israel has a lot to teach us in that aspect. I am very happy that we will also be meeting at the upcoming conference in Glasgow, and that we have the opportunity to share more useful information with each other".

Avraham Duvdevani, KKL-JNF Global Chairman also issued the following statement: "As the world faces the ever-growing threat of global warming, I see the Congo and African countries taking an active role in solving the crisis and hoping to work in mutual cooperation to advance technological initiatives that will help save future generations. Our best talents, minds and solutions are at your disposal, Mr. President. We welcome this opportunity to inaugurate the grove today and the honor of hosting you here with us in a KKL-JNF forest in Israel."

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