The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency. The disease, caused by the mpox virus, has seen a rapid spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries, prompting international concern and the need for a coordinated response. Over 17,000 cases and 500 deaths have been reported, with a new clade of the virus, clade Ib, identified as particularly virulent.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently declared the mpox outbreak in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its neighboring countries, as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). This declaration comes in response to the rapid spread of a new and deadlier strain of the virus, known as clade Ib, which poses a significant threat not only to the African continent but potentially worldwide.
The mpox virus, previously known as monkeypox, has been endemic to Central and West Africa for decades, but recent developments have seen the virus spread to countries previously unaffected. The current outbreak has resulted in over 17,000 reported cases and more than 500 deaths across 13 African countries, with the DRC accounting for the majority of these cases. The WHO has highlighted the severity of the new clade Ib, which has contributed significantly to the surge in cases and fatalities.
In response to the outbreak, the WHO has initiated several measures to contain and manage the spread of the virus. These include the Emergency Use Listing of mpox vaccines, coordination with international partners to ensure equitable access to vaccines and treatments, and the release of funds from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support affected regions. Additionally, the organization has called for international cooperation to enhance surveillance, diagnostics, and research to better understand and combat the spread of clade Ib.
The declaration of a global health emergency underscores the potential of the mpox outbreak to affect global health security. Experts warn that without a robust and coordinated international response, the virus could spread beyond Africa, similar to previous outbreaks like COVID-19. The focus is now on implementing effective containment strategies, understanding the behavior of the new virus clade, and ensuring all nations are prepared to manage and prevent the spread of mpox.
The WHO's declaration of the mpox outbreak as a global health emergency is a call to action for the international community to prevent another potential global pandemic. By focusing on rapid response, vaccine distribution, and international cooperation, there is hope to contain the outbreak and minimize its impact on public health worldwide.
"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." - Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus