WHO declares monkey pox global health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the monkey pox global health emergency outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has claimed the lives of at least 450 individuals during an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and has now spread across central and eastern Africa.

The rapid spread of a new, highly contagious variant of the disease is causing alarm mpox global health emergency among scientists. This new variant, along with the high fatality rate, has intensified concerns about the potential for further outbreaks within Africa and beyond. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency, stating that “a coordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives.”

mpox global health emergency is spread through close contact, including sexual activity, skin-to-skin contact, and even close breathing or talking with an infected person. The disease presents with flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, and it can be fatal, with a death rate of around 4% in affected cases.

Prevention efforts can include vaccination, but these are typically limited to individuals at high risk or those who have been in close contact with an infected person. There are two main types of mpox: Clade 1 and Clade 2. The current crisis is driven by Clade 1, which is significantly more deadly than the previously prominent Clade 2 strain. While Clade 2 caused a public health emergency in 2022 with a relatively mild impact, Clade 1 has a much higher mortality rate, with up to 10% of those infected dying in past outbreaks.

A notable development occurred around September of last year, when mutations in the virus led to the emergence of a new variant, Clade 1b. This variant has been described by experts as “the most dangerous yet” due to its rapid spread and higher fatality rate. Since the beginning of this year, the DRC has reported over 13,700 cases of mpox, with at least 450 deaths. The disease has also been detected in several other African nations, including Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya, and Rwanda.

The WHO’s declaration of a public health emergency is expected to accelerate research, funding, and the implementation of international public health measures. Dr. Josie Golding from the Wellcome Trust described the declaration as a “strong signal” of the need for urgent action, while Dr. Boghuma Titanji from Emory University highlighted it as an indication of the crisis’s severity. Prof. Trudie Lang, Director of the Global Health Network at the University of Oxford, acknowledged the importance and timeliness of the declaration but noted that the emergence of the new strain presents many unknowns that need addressing.

The 2022 outbreak of the milder Clade 2 strain spread to nearly 100 countries, including parts of Europe and Asia, with over 87,000 cases and 140 deaths reported. Although the outbreak primarily affected men who have sex with men, it was managed effectively through targeted vaccination of vulnerable groups.

On Tuesday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also declared a public health emergency, with its head, Jean Kaseya, warning that the current outbreak could escalate if not promptly controlled. “We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat,” Kaseya stressed.

The situation underscores the critical need for a swift and coordinated global response to prevent further spread and mitigate the impact of this dangerous new mpox variant.