WHO Declares Mpox a Global Health Emergency

 The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern. This highly contagious disease, formerly known as monkeypox, has claimed at least 450 lives during an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mpox has now spread across central and east Africa, raising alarm among scientists due to the rapid spread and high fatality rate of a new variant. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed grave concern about the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond, stating, "A coordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives."

Mpox is transmitted through close contact, such as sex, skin-to-skin contact, and close-range talking or breathing. It causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions and can be fatal, with a mortality rate of four in 100 cases.

There are two main types of mpox: Clade 1 and Clade 2. The current outbreak is driven by the more deadly Clade 1, which has a historical fatality rate of up to 10%. Around September last year, mutations led to the emergence of Clade 1b, an offshoot that has since spread rapidly and been labeled “the most dangerous yet” by scientists. Since the start of the year, there have been over 13,700 cases in the DR Congo, resulting in at least 450 deaths. The disease has also been detected in other African countries, including Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya, and Rwanda.

The declaration of mpox as a public health emergency aims to accelerate research, funding, and the implementation of international public health measures. Dr. Josie Golding from the Wellcome Trust called it a "strong signal," while Dr. Boghuma Titanji of Emory University stated that the move "underscores the gravity of the crisis." Prof. Trudie Lang, director of the Global Health Network at the University of Oxford, emphasized that the new strain's emergence introduces many unknowns that need to be addressed.

In July 2022, the milder Clade 2 strain of mpox spread to nearly 100 countries, including some in Europe and Asia, resulting in more than 87,000 cases and 140 deaths. Although anyone can contract monkeypox, that outbreak was primarily concentrated among men who have sex with men and was controlled by vaccinating vulnerable groups.

On Tuesday, scientists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also declared a public health emergency. The head of the organization, Jean Kaseya, warned that the current outbreak could spiral out of control without immediate containment efforts. "We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat," he said.