The World Health Organisation, WHO, on Wednesday declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years following an outbreak of the viral infection outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighbouring countries.
An emergency committee convened earlier Wednesday to advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on whether the outbreak is a “public health emergency of international concern,” or PHEIC.
PHEIC status is WHO’s highest level of alert, that aims to accelerate research, funding, international public health measures, and collaboration 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 neighbouring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, triggering the action from the WHO.
“The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighbouring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” Tedros added.
