WHO to Convene Emergency Committee on Mpox Outbreak in Congo

The WHO is convening an emergency committee to assess whether the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a public health emergency of international concern. With over 27,000 cases and 1,100 deaths, the outbreak is spreading to neighboring countries. WHO is expediting vaccine access and scaling up response efforts.

The head of the World Health Organization announced on Wednesday that an emergency committee will be convened to determine whether the ongoing mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. This outbreak has already affected around 27,000 individuals and caused over 1,100 fatalities, mostly children, since early 2023.

The WHO reported the confirmation of 50 new mpox cases and suspected cases in four newly affected countries - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need to convene an emergency committee due to the spread of the virus in neighboring countries and its potential for further international transmission.

Emergency committees consist of international experts who offer technical advice and recommendations about managing disease outbreaks. The WHO plans to release more funds in the coming days and expedite the emergency use of two vaccines, Bavarian Nordic's Jynneos and KM Biologics LC16, which Congo has approved since June. The outbreak originated from Clade I but has spread as Clade Ib, a variant that spreads more easily through close contact, principally affecting children.