The World Health Organization (WHO) made a critical announcement on Wednesday, branding the ongoing Mpox outbreak in Africa as a global health emergency. This decision came in the wake of mounting concerns that a more lethal strain of the virus, known as clade Ib, had spread to four previously unaffected African nations. Initially contained within the Democratic Republic of Congo, this strain’s unexpected dissemination prompted an urgent meeting of the WHO emergency committee.
During the virtual session, independent experts convened to advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the severity of the outbreak. Subsequently, after careful deliberation, he officially declared a public health emergency of international concern, marking the highest level of alert under international health regulations.
Tedros expressed deep apprehension over the rapid spread of the new clade of Mpox in Eastern DRC and its subsequent detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported cases of the disease. He underscored the potential for further expansion within Africa and beyond, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Referred to as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), this status, bestowed by the WHO, designates “extraordinary events” presenting a public health threat across borders due to disease transmission. Such outbreaks necessitate a united global response, according to the organization’s guidelines.
Committee Chair Dimie Ogoina highlighted the unanimous consensus reached during the meeting, stressing the extraordinary nature of the current Mpox outbreak. He cautioned that the situation in Africa only scratches the surface of the issue, indicating a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the true extent of the Mpox burden.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention echoed these concerns, declaring the outbreak a public health emergency of continental security—an unprecedented move for the agency since its inception in 2017.
Since the onset of the year, over 17,000 Mpox cases and more than 500 fatalities have been documented across 13 African countries. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified the outbreak as a “very high-risk event,” with the Democratic Republic of Congo reporting the highest number of cases, exceeding 14,000 and accounting for 96% of confirmed cases in the current month.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, poses a significant risk as a viral disease capable of easy transmission among humans and from infected animals. Its spread can occur through various means such as close contact, contaminated materials, and more. The symptoms encompass fever, a distressing rash, headaches, muscle pain, exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes.
The global community’s response to this escalating crisis involves a multi-faceted approach, including vaccination efforts, enhanced surveillance, diagnostics, and extensive research initiatives. WHO has authorized Emergency Use Listing for Mpox vaccines and formulated a regional response plan necessitating $15 million for implementation. Notably, half a million vaccine doses are readily available, with a potential production capacity of 2.4 million by year-end. Initial recipients of these vaccines will be the DRC and Nigeria, as outlined by African Regional Emergency Director Dr. Abdou Salam Gueye.
In emphasizing the critical role of international collaboration in combating the outbreak, WHO has called for concerted efforts and resources to contain the spread effectively. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, Director of WHO’s Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, stressed the urgency of leveraging this pivotal moment to bolster research efforts and understanding of the evolving situation.
As global health agencies mobilize to address the Mpox crisis, the overarching goal remains clear: to halt transmission, save lives, and mitigate the far-reaching impact of this emergent global health threat.
