The World Health Organization (WHO) has once again declared mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact, a global health emergency. This is the second time in two years that such a declaration has been made.
Here’s what this means.
A “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC) is the highest alert level issued by WHO. It is used when diseases are spreading in new or unusual ways and aims to mobilize international cooperation and funding to combat an outbreak. WHO’s declaration comes on the heels of a similar alert issued by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week.
Why is mpox an emergency again?
Two years ago, WHO declared mpox an emergency when a new form of the virus began spreading globally, mainly among men who have sex with men. This outbreak was eventually brought under control through behavior changes, safe sex practices, and vaccination, helping at-risk populations in many countries protect themselves.
However, mpox has been a longstanding public health issue in parts of Africa, with the first human case reported in Congo in 1970, and it has caused outbreaks ever since. The current outbreak in Congo is the worst on record, with 27,000 cases and over 1,100 deaths since January 2023, primarily affecting children. The disease presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions and is generally mild but can be fatal. Children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, are at higher risk of complications.
Now, two strains of mpox are spreading in Congo: the endemic form and a new offshoot. This new strain has raised global concerns due to its rapid spread and the limited knowledge about it. It is transmitted through sexual contact and other forms of close contact, such as among children in displacement camps. The virus has also spread from eastern Congo to Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya.
What happens next?
The emergency declarations are expected to accelerate efforts to secure more medical resources and funding for Congo to help control the outbreak. Improved surveillance is crucial to studying the virus and curbing its spread.
However, funding has been a challenge. In 2022, WHO’s appeal for $34 million to fight mpox went unanswered by donors, and there was significant inequality in access to vaccines. African countries lacked access to the two vaccines used during the global outbreak, produced by Bavarian Nordic and KM Biologics. This situation remains largely unchanged two years later, although WHO is now appealing for vaccine donations from countries with stockpiles. The Africa CDC has also announced plans to secure doses, but current supplies are limited.
How worried should I be?
Mpox is a serious health issue that is claiming the lives of vulnerable populations, including children, and a new strain appears to be spreading in different ways and regions of Africa. However, it is not COVID-19. There is no evidence that mpox spreads easily through the air like COVID-19, and there are proven methods to prevent its spread and protect those at risk. The key challenge now, which the emergency declarations aim to address, is ensuring that these protective tools reach those most in need, particularly in Congo and neighboring countries