The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) spread to neighboring countries.
On Wednesday, an emergency committee advised WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that the outbreak should be classified as a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). This designation is WHO’s highest level of alert, intended to speed up research, funding, and global cooperation to contain the disease.
“A coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” Tedros said.
Mpox, which spreads through close contact, typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While usually mild, it can be fatal in rare cases. The recent outbreak in Congo began with a strain known as clade I. However, a new variant, clade Ib, is spreading more easily, including through routine close contact and sexual contact.
This variant has now spread from Congo to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, prompting WHO’s emergency response.
“The rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, and its detection in neighboring countries that hadn’t previously reported mpox, is very concerning,” Tedros added.
WHO has released $1.5 million in contingency funds and plans to raise more in the coming days. The organization’s response plan requires an initial $15 million, and WHO will appeal to donors for further funding.
Earlier this week, Africa’s top public health body declared an mpox emergency across the continent, citing over 17,000 suspected cases and more than 500 deaths this year, mostly among children in Congo.
Professor Dimie Ogoina, chair of WHO’s mpox emergency committee, stated that the current surge in cases is an “extraordinary event,” with a record number of cases in Congo.
In 2022, a different strain of mpox spread globally, primarily among men who have sex with men, but was contained with vaccines and behavior changes. In Congo, more study is needed to understand the transmission routes. No vaccines are available yet, but efforts are underway to develop them, and WHO has asked countries with stockpiles to donate doses.