A public health emergency of international concern has been declared due to the emergence of a new mpox virus variant in Africa, marking the highest level of alert.
As of Wednesday, cases have been detected in 13 African countries, with the new variant spreading quickly. This is the second time in two years that such an alert has been issued for this disease.
The declaration follows an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has now extended to neighboring nations.
“The emergency committee met today and advised me that the current situation represents a public health emergency of international concern, and I have accepted this recommendation,” stated the WHO Director-General during a press briefing.
“This is a matter of global concern,” he stated.
“In the days and weeks ahead, we are committed to coordinating the global response, working closely with affected countries, and leveraging our on-the-ground presence to prevent transmission, treat those infected, and save lives,” he added.
Declaring a PHEIC can accelerate research, funding, and international health measures, fostering global cooperation to contain the disease. It also activates emergency responses worldwide under the legally binding International Health Regulations.
Mpox is transmitted through close contact between individuals. Although it is generally mild, it can be fatal in rare instances and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions.
The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) started with the clade I strain, but a new variant, clade Ib, seems to be spreading more rapidly.
This new strain has been found in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Recently, Africa’s leading health authority declared a continent-wide mpox emergency, citing the rapid spread of the infection.
This year, Africa has reported over 17,000 suspected cases and 517 deaths from mpox, reflecting a 160% increase from the same period last year.
The regional health body’s chief of staff mentioned that an initial 215,000 doses of mpox vaccine are set to be delivered to Africa through a partnership with the EU’s health task force and the vaccine producer Bavarian Nordic. Efforts are also underway to secure two million doses by year-end and ten million by 2025.
In addition, media campaigns on television and radio will be intensified to spread awareness, with a focus on reaching the youth, as 96% of cases are in the DRC and 60% of these involve individuals under 18. Social media will also be utilized to connect with younger audiences.
