WHO Declares Mpox Global Public Health Emergency Amid Outbreak

The World Health Organization has designated mpox as a global public health emergency following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The virus, now also found in neighboring countries, spreads through close contact and can be fatal in rare cases. A coordinated international response is required.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighboring countries. An emergency committee met earlier on Wednesday to advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on whether the disease outbreak constitutes a 'public health emergency of international concern,' or PHEIC.

PHEIC status is WHO's highest level of alert and can accelerate research, funding, and international public health measures and cooperation to contain a disease. 'It's clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives,' said Tedros.

Mpox can spread through close contact. Usually mild, it is fatal in rare cases. It causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body. The outbreak in Congo began with the spread of an endemic strain, known as clade I. But a new variant, clade Ib, appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, including sexual contact.

It has spread from Congo to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, triggering action from the WHO. 'The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,' Tedros added.

Tedros said on Wednesday that WHO had released $1.5 million in contingency funds and plans to release more in the coming days. WHO's response plan would require an initial $15 million, and the agency plans to appeal to donors for funding. Earlier this week, Africa's top public health body declared an mpox emergency for the continent after warning that the viral infection was spreading at an alarming rate.

Professor Dimie Ogoina, chair of WHO's mpox emergency committee, said all members unanimously agreed that the current upsurge of cases is an 'extraordinary event,' highlighting that Congo has reported a record number of mpox cases.

(With inputs from agencies.)