Mpox Declared a Global Public Health Emergency by WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox, a viral infection, a global public health emergency. This marks the second such declaration in two years, prompted by a new outbreak spreading across Africa.
The declaration follows an outbreak of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has since spread to neighboring countries. The WHO's emergency committee convened to advise Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the situation.
The outbreak in Congo began with the spread of an endemic strain known as clade I. However, a new variant, clade Ib, appears to spread more easily through close contact, including sexual contact. This variant has now spread to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
"The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying," said Tedros.
The WHO has released $1.5 million in contingency funds and plans to release more in the coming days. The agency's response plan would require an initial $15 million, and it plans to appeal to donors for funding.
Earlier this week, Africa's top public health body declared an mpox emergency for the continent after warning that the viral infection was spreading at an alarming rate. Over 17,000 suspected cases and over 500 deaths have been reported this year, mainly among children in Congo.
Mpox, first discovered in the late 1950s, disappeared for decades with the eradication of smallpox in 1980. However, it reemerged in Nigeria in 2017. Since then, Nigeria has reported at least 450 cases, with at least eight cases reported internationally.
Just two years ago, the WHO declared a monkeypox outbreak a global emergency, with more than 16,000 cases reported in over 75 countries. The number of confirmed monkeypox infections rose 77% from late June through early July.
Amid these outbreaks, vaccine stocks have been in focus. A surge in vaccine stocks followed the death of a man from a never-before-seen bird flu strain.