WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak a Global Health Emergency Again
A patient showing his hand with a sore caused by an infection of the mpox virus, in the isolation area for mpox patients at the Arzobispo Loayza hospital, in Lima, Peru, August 16, 2022. — AFP/File
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox outbreak a global health emergency for the second time in two years, highlighting the severity of the situation as the viral infection continues to spread through close contact.
A global health emergency, or a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC), is WHO’s highest alert level, signaling the need for international cooperation and funding to combat the outbreak. This declaration follows a similar warning issued by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier this week.
Mpox, which first emerged in Congo in 1970, has been a recurring public health issue in parts of Africa. The current outbreak in Congo, the worst ever, has resulted in 27,000 cases and over 1,100 deaths since January 2023, primarily affecting children. The virus causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, and while it is generally mild, it can be fatal, especially for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.
Two strains of mpox are now spreading in Congo: the endemic form and a new variant that has raised global concerns due to its rapid spread and limited understanding. The virus is transmitted through sexual contact and close contact, including among children in displacement camps, and has now spread to neighboring countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya.
The emergency declarations aim to accelerate efforts to provide medical tools and funding to Congo to control the outbreak. However, WHO’s previous appeal for $34 million to fight mpox in 2022 received no donor support, and vaccine access remains limited in African countries. The WHO is now calling for dose donations from countries with stockpiles, while Africa CDC is also working on securing vaccines, though supplies are currently scarce.
While mpox is a serious health issue, particularly for vulnerable populations, it is not as easily transmissible as COVID-19. Proven tools are available to stop the spread, but the challenge lies in ensuring these tools reach those who need them most, particularly in Congo and surrounding regions.