The World Health Organization has once again declared mpox a global public health crisis, following an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighboring countries in Africa. This is the second time in two years that mpox has been declared a “public health emergency of international concern,” or PHEIC, by the WHO.
This designation allows for increased research, funding, and international cooperation to contain the disease. Earlier this week, Africa’s leading public health organization also declared mpox, previously known as monkeypox, an emergency after warning that the viral infection was spreading rapidly.
More than 17,000 suspected cases of mpox and 517 deaths have been reported in Africa so far this year, a 160% increase compared to the same period last year. Cases have been reported in 13 countries. Mpox has two distinct viral clades, I and II, both of which can spread through close contact with an infected person or via direct contact with infected animals or contaminated materials.
The outbreak in Congo began with the spread of clade I, a strain that is endemic in central Africa and known to be more transmissible. Clade I can cause more severe infections and has previously resulted in up to 10% mortality rate. A new version of clade I, called clade Ib, is now spreading and appears to be more easily transmissible through routine close contact, including sexual contact.
It has spread from Congo to neighboring countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, prompting action from the WHO. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for a coordinated international response to stop these outbreaks and save lives.
A strain of clade II was responsible for the global spread of mpox in 2022. Infections from clade II are generally milder than those from clade I, with over 99.9% survival rate according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, it can still cause severe illness, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems.
