WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak in Africa a Global Public Health Emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the rising cases of mpox (monkeypox) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other African countries as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This decision was made by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus following a meeting with the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee, composed of independent experts who assessed the data from WHO and affected countries.

The declaration reflects growing concerns about the potential for the virus to spread beyond Africa. The Committee has advised the Director-General to issue temporary recommendations to countries in response to the situation. WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, highlighted ongoing efforts in collaboration with communities and governments to curb the spread of mpox. She emphasized that the virus's growing reach necessitates coordinated international action to end the outbreaks.

The Committee’s Chair, Professor Dimie Ogoina, pointed out the global implications of the mpox upsurge, stressing that the virus, which has been neglected in Africa, could lead to another worldwide outbreak if decisive action is not taken. This is the second PHEIC related to mpox in the last two years. The first was declared in July 2022 when a multi-country outbreak spread rapidly via sexual contact in countries where mpox had not been previously detected. That PHEIC was lifted in May 2023 after a sustained decline in global cases.

Mpox, caused by an Orthopoxvirus, was first detected in humans in 1970 in the DRC and is endemic to central and west Africa. The DRC has reported mpox cases for over a decade, with a significant increase in cases reported last year. This year, the number of cases has already exceeded last year’s total, with over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths reported so far.

A new strain of the virus, clade 1b, which primarily spreads through sexual networks, has emerged and rapidly spread in the DRC. This strain has also been detected in neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, which had not reported mpox before. Over 100 laboratory-confirmed cases of clade 1b have been reported in these countries, with experts suspecting the actual number to be higher. 

WHO is working with countries and vaccine manufacturers to ensure equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other tools necessary for the response. The organization has already released $1.45 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies and is appealing to donors to fund the full scope of the mpox response.