The World Health Organization (WHO) has once again declared Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, a global public health emergency. This decision follows a severe outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has rapidly spread to neighboring countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The outbreak, driven by a new variant called clade 1b, is causing significant concern due to its higher transmissibility through close contact, including sexual contact.
This is the second time in two years that Mpox has been declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), WHO’s highest level of alert. The declaration intends to accelerate global research, funding, and cooperation efforts to contain the virus. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of a coordinated international response to stop the spread and save lives.
The outbreak in the DRC, which began with the endemic clade 1, has now seen the emergence of clade 1b, a variant that spreads more easily. This variant has now been detected in countries that had not previously reported Mpox cases, prompting WHO to take action. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also declared the situation a public health emergency for the continent, noting the alarming rate of spread, with over 17,000 suspected cases and more than 500 deaths, primarily among children in the DRC.
In response, WHO has released $1.5 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support the initial response and plans to raise an additional $15 million to fund surveillance, preparedness, and response activities. WHO is also appealing to donors for more support.
Vaccination efforts are a critical part of the response, with two WHO-approved vaccines being used to combat the outbreak. The WHO is working with manufacturers to accelerate vaccine access, particularly for lower-income countries that have not yet approved the vaccines for national use. WHO’s Emergency Use Listing (EUL) is facilitating this process by allowing organizations like UNICEF to gather and distribute vaccines.
The WHO’s regional response plan includes providing machines to analyze blood samples, supporting laboratories to sequence viral samples, assisting in case investigations and contact tracing, and training healthcare workers. WHO has also extended its standing recommendations for monitoring and responding to Mpox cases, which were set to expire on August 20, 2024, for another year.
WHO remains committed to coordinating the global response, working closely with affected countries, and leveraging its presence on the ground to prevent transmission, treat those infected, and save lives. The agency emphasizes the importance of community-centered approaches in stopping the outbreak and addressing the underlying transmission drivers.
