NAIROBI, Kenya- The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern.
Formerly known as monkeypox, the disease has already claimed over 450 lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and is rapidly spreading across central and eastern Africa.
Scientists are raising alarms about a new, highly virulent strain that’s driving this crisis, prompting urgent calls for a coordinated global response.
Mpox, a highly contagious viral disease, is transmitted through close contact, including sexual activity, skin-to-skin interactions, and even breathing close to an infected person.
The virus triggers flu-like symptoms, painful skin lesions, and in severe cases, death—currently affecting 4pc of those infected.
While the virus has two main strains, the more virulent Clade Ib is causing significant concern due to its rapid spread and high fatality rate.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus voiced deep concerns about the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond.
“A coordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives,” he emphasized during the announcement.
Since the start of 2024, the DRC has recorded over 13,700 cases of mpox, with 450 fatalities. The outbreak has since spilled over into neighboring countries like Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya, and Rwanda, raising alarms across the continent.
The new Clade Ib strain is at the center of this alarming spread, with experts dubbing it the “most dangerous yet.”
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also declared a public health emergency in response to the outbreak.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa CDC, warned, “We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat before it spirals out of control.”
This isn’t the first time mpox has triggered a global health alert. Back in July 2022, the WHO declared an emergency for a different strain, Clade II, which spread to nearly 100 countries, causing over 87,000 cases and 140 deaths.
That outbreak was eventually contained through targeted vaccination campaigns, primarily focusing on vulnerable groups.
However, the emergence of the more lethal Clade Ib presents new challenges. Scientists, including Dr. Josie Golding from the Wellcome Trust and Dr. Boghuma Titanji from Emory University, have hailed the WHO’s declaration as a critical step in mobilizing resources and research.
But as Prof. Trudie Lang from the University of Oxford pointed out, the unknowns surrounding this new strain mean the world must brace for an evolving crisis.
