WHO Declares Mpox a Global Health Emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency due to an outbreak of mpox, a viral infection spreading through close contact, for the second time in two years. Mpox causes flu-like symptoms and can be fatal. The declaration aims to enhance international cooperation to combat the outbreak, which is severely affecting children in Congo.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak of mpox, a viral infection transmitted through close contact, a global health emergency for the second time in two years.

WHO's highest alert, a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), is issued when diseases spread in unusual ways, urging global cooperation and funding. This follows a similar declaration from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week.

Two years ago, WHO's emergency declaration helped bring the previous mpox outbreak under control, primarily affecting men who have sex with men, through behavior change, safe sex practices, and vaccines. However, mpox has long been a public health issue in parts of Africa, with outbreaks since 1970.

The current outbreak in Congo is the worst ever, with 27,000 cases and over 1,100 deaths since January 2023, largely among children. Mpox causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, and while usually mild, can be deadly, especially for children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.

A new mpox strain spreading rapidly and transmitting through both sexual and close contact, including among displaced children, has spread from eastern Congo to Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya, raising global concern.

Emergency declarations aim to accelerate efforts to supply medical tools and funding to Congo. Improved surveillance is essential to study the virus and curb its spread. In 2022, WHO's $34 million appeal for mpox-fighting funds saw limited donor response, and access to vaccines was inequitable. WHO and Africa CDC are seeking dose donations and developing plans to secure vaccines, although stocks remain limited.

While mpox is a serious health concern, particularly for vulnerable groups, it is not as transmissible as COVID-19. Proven tools exist to halt its spread and assist at-risk populations, and the current challenge is to ensure their availability in Congo and neighboring countries.