On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years.
This declaration follows a significant outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has now spread to neighboring countries.
An emergency committee convened earlier in the day to advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on whether the outbreak should be classified as a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). PHEIC is the WHO’s highest level of alert, intended to accelerate research, funding, and international cooperation to contain disease outbreaks.
Tedros emphasized the importance of a coordinated international response to control the outbreak and prevent further loss of life. Mpox, which can be transmitted through close contact, usually presents with mild symptoms but can be fatal in rare cases. The virus causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.
The outbreak in the DRC began with the spread of an endemic strain known as clade I. However, a new variant, clade Ib, appears to be more easily transmissible through routine close contact, including sexual contact. This variant has spread from Congo to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, prompting the WHO’s emergency declaration.
“The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its appearance in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” Tedros said.
In response to the outbreak, WHO has released $1.5 million in contingency funds and plans to release more in the coming days. The organization estimates that its response plan will require an initial $15 million and intends to seek additional funding from donors.
Earlier this week, Africa’s top public health body declared an mpox emergency for the continent, citing the rapid spread of the virus. So far this year, there have been more than 17,000 suspected cases and over 500 deaths, mostly among children in the Congo.
Professor Dimie Ogoina, chair of WHO’s mpox emergency committee, stated that all members unanimously agreed that the current surge in cases constitutes an “extraordinary event,” with Congo experiencing a record number of cases.
Vaccines and behavior changes previously helped contain a different strain of mpox that spread globally in 2022, primarily among men who have sex with men. However, in the Congo, further study is needed to understand the transmission routes of the new clade. While no vaccines are currently available, efforts are underway to develop them and determine the best target groups. WHO has also urged countries with vaccine stockpiles to donate doses.
