The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the escalating outbreak of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other African nations a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
The declaration, made by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, follows an urgent recommendation from an independent expert committee. The experts cited the virus’s rapid spread across African countries and its potential to reach other continents.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection similar to smallpox. It belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, which includes viruses that cause pox-like diseases. Mpox primarily manifests through a rash with raised bumps or blisters, often filled with fluid or pus, that eventually crust over and heal.
While initially discovered in monkeys in 1958, the virus was first identified in humans in 1970 in the DRC. The disease can also affect rodents and humans, and in 2022, WHO renamed it “mpox” to reduce stigma.
The recent outbreak in the DRC has seen a concerning rise in cases, with over 15,600 infections and 537 deaths reported this year alone. The emergence of a new strain of the virus, clade 1b, which is spreading primarily through sexual contact, has led to its detection in neighboring countries like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, where over 100 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported.
Dr. Tedros emphasized the need for a coordinated global response to halt the spread of mpox and save lives. WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, stressed that significant efforts are already underway to curb the outbreak.
The WHO is also working to accelerate vaccine access for lower-income countries and has released $1.45 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support immediate response efforts.
As the situation evolves, WHO is appealing to donors for an initial $15 million to fund further surveillance, preparedness, and response activities to contain the virus and prevent it from becoming a global crisis.
