NEW YORK:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has again declared mpox a global public health emergency, marking the second time in two years that the virus has reached this level of international concern. The declaration comes in response to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that has spread rapidly to neighbouring countries, prompting the WHO’s highest level of alert.
An emergency committee met on Wednesday to advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on whether the current outbreak meets the criteria for a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). WHO uses the PHEIC designation to signal the need for urgent international action, including accelerated research, funding and coordinated public health efforts to contain the disease.
Tedros stressed the importance of a global response, saying that “a coordinated international effort is crucial to stop these outbreaks and save lives.” Mpox, which is spread through close contact, is generally mild but can be fatal in rare cases. The virus typically presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the skin.
The current outbreak in Congo originated from an endemic strain known as clade I. However, a new variant, clade Ib, has emerged that spreads more easily through regular close contact, including sexual contact. This new variant has crossed the borders of Congo and affected countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, prompting the WHO to take emergency measures.
Tedros expressed deep concern about the rapid spread of this new clade, particularly in regions that had not previously reported cases of mpox. He highlighted the possibility of further spread within Africa and beyond, underlining the urgency of the situation.
To deal with the outbreak, WHO has already released $1.5 million in contingency funds and plans to mobilise further resources. The initial response plan will require around $15 million, and WHO intends to ask donors for additional support. The outbreak has been particularly severe in Congo, where Africa's main public health agency recently declared an mpox emergency. More than 17,000 suspected cases and more than 500 deaths have been reported this year alone, mostly among children.
Professor Dimie Ogoina, chair of the WHO emergency committee on mpox, called the situation “extraordinary” and highlighted the record number of cases in Congo. While vaccines and behavioural changes previously helped contain a different strain of mpox in 2022, current transmission routes in Congo require further investigation. WHO is working on vaccine availability and targeting, and has called on countries with stockpiles to donate doses to help with the response.
