World Health Organization has declared the Mpox outbreak a global health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called an emergency committee meeting due to concerns over the spread of a lethal strain of the Mpox or Monkeypox virus, known as clade IB, which has now been detected in four African countries that had not previously reported cases. This strain was confined to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Yesterday, experts met virtually to give appropriate guidance to the WHO Director-General on the severity of the outbreak. The declaration of Public Health Emergency International (PHEIC) is the highest alert level under the International Health Regulations.

"The emergence and rapid spread of a new clade of Mpox in eastern DRC, along with its detection in neighboring countries that have not previously reported cases, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond, is deeply concerning," Tedros stated.

He added, "The Emergency Committee has informed me that this situation qualifies as a public health emergency of international concern, and I have accepted their recommendation."

A PHEIC, or Public Health Emergency of International Concern, is a designation used by the WHO for extraordinary events that pose a public health risk to other countries due to the international spread of disease. This designation often requires a coordinated global response to manage the outbreak effectively.

"The committee was unanimous in its assessment that the current outbreak of Mpox, particularly with the emergence of this new clade, is an extraordinary event," said committee chair Dimi Ogoina. "We still don't realise the consequences of Monkeypox, nor do we have a complete visualisation of the situation."

On Tuesday, Since its establishment in 2017, This is the agency's first declaration, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention is the outbreak of a public health emergency for continental security. 

Since the start of the year, over 17,000 Mpox cases and more than 500 deaths have been reported across 13 African countries, according to the Africa CDC. The outbreak is classified as a "very high-risk event", with most cases - more than 14,000 - reported in the DRC, accounting for 96% of confirmed cases this month.

Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, is a viral disease that can spread easily between humans and infected animals. According to the WHO, it can be transmitted through close contact, such as touching, kissing, or sexual activity, as well as through contaminated materials like sheets, clothing, and needles. Symptoms of Mpox include fever, a painful rash, headaches, muscle and back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

For decades, Mpox was primarily found in Central and West Africa, but in 2022, it began spreading to Europe and North America. The WHO initially declared Mpox a global health emergency in July 2022, but that declaration was lifted in May 2023.

Monkeypox is classified into two genetic clades, I and II. A clade is a broad grouping of viruses that have evolved over time and are genetically and clinically distinct. Clade II was responsible for the 2022 outbreak, while clade IB has been linked to more severe cases of the disease.

"We are not dealing with just one outbreak from a single clade; we are facing multiple outbreaks involving different clades in various countries, with diverse modes of transmission and varying levels of risk," Tedros explained.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that no cases of clade I Mpox have been identified in the U.S. The U.S. government has offered financial support, assistance, and vaccines to the WHO and the DRC to aid in combating the outbreak in Africa.

Recently, the CDC recommended vaccination for those in the U.S. Who are either illuminated or at high hazard of contracting monkeypox. 

WHO officials stated that the virus could be contained effectively if timely and appropriate actions are taken. They are calling for international cooperation in funding and coordinating efforts to contain the devastating outbreak and advance research into the control of clade IB and its transmission.

"It's evident that a coordinated global response is crucial to halting these outbreaks and saving lives," Tedros remarked on Wednesday.

The WHO has sanctioned the Emergency Use Listing process for Monkeypox vaccines and developed a regional response plan that requires $15 million, with $1.5 million meantime allocated from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies.

There are currently 500,000 vaccine doses in reserve, with an additional almost 2.4 million available by the year's end, following to Tim Nguyen of the WHO Health Emergencies Program. The DRC and Nigeria will be the first places to receive these vaccines, as noted by African Regional Emergency Director Dr. Abdou Salam Gueye. 

The WHO stressed that vaccines are just one part of the response; successfully containing the spread will also require enhanced surveillance, diagnostics, and research to address existing knowledge gaps.

Dr. Maria van Kerkhove, director of WHO's Division of Epidemiology and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, said, "We can shut monkeypox transmission through a concerted effort using multiple strategies."

But we must now continue our united efforts to support our member states and advance the research needed to fully understand it.