On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the highest alert level under international health regulations. This decision followed an emergency meeting convened amid growing concerns over the rapid spread of a more virulent strain of the virus, known as clade Ib, which has now been detected in four additional African countries. Previously, the virus had been confined to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
During the emergency meeting, independent experts briefed WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the severity of the outbreak. Following the consultation, he issued the PHEIC declaration, stating, “The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying.”
Dr. Tedros continued, “The emergency committee met and advised me that the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice.” The declaration highlights the seriousness of the situation, underscoring the need for immediate and coordinated international response efforts.
Dimie Ogoina, Chair of the emergency committee, emphasized the gravity of the outbreak, stating, “It was unanimous that the current upsurge of mpox is an extraordinary event. What we have in Africa is the tip of the iceberg. We are not recognizing, or we don’t have the full picture of, this burden of mpox.”
In a significant move, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Significance on Tuesday. This marks the agency’s first such declaration since its establishment in 2017, further highlighting the critical nature of the current situation.
According to the Africa CDC, more than 17,000 mpox cases and over 500 deaths have been reported across 13 African countries since the beginning of the year. The Democratic Republic of Congo remains the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for over 14,000 cases and 96% of confirmed cases reported this month alone.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can spread easily between people and from infected animals. The virus spreads through close contact, such as touching, kissing, or sexual activity, as well as through contaminated materials like sheets, clothing, and needles. Symptoms include fever, a painful rash, headache, muscle and back pain, low energy, and enlarged lymph nodes.
The WHO’s declaration serves as a call to action for the global community to intensify efforts in controlling the outbreak, preventing further spread, and protecting vulnerable populations, both in Africa and worldwide.
