WHO declares Mpox public health emergency of international concern
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern,” marking the second time in two years that the virus has reached this critical status.
This declaration follows the Africa Centre for Disease Control’s (Africa CDC) recent announcement of mpox as a “public health emergency of continental security,” highlighting the escalating threat across the African continent.
Last week, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus announced that an emergency committee was being convened under the International Health Regulations to assess the rising cases of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African nations.
During an online press briefing on Wednesday, Ghebreyesus confirmed that the emergency committee had met and advised that the situation now constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. “I have accepted that advice,” he stated.
Since the beginning of the year, the DRC has reported over 14,000 cases of mpox and 524 deaths, primarily caused by a new variant, clade 1b. The virus has also spread to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda, with children being particularly affected.
Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern over the rapid spread of the new mpox clade in eastern Congo, its detection in countries that had not previously reported cases, and the potential for further outbreaks within Africa and beyond. “In addition to other outbreaks of different mpox clades in other parts of Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” he emphasized.
He also underscored that a “public health emergency of international concern” is the highest level of alarm under international health law. The WHO’s emergency declaration aligns with the Africa CDC’s recent regional emergency status, reflecting the urgency of the situation.
WHO is actively working on the ground in affected countries, collaborating with Africa CDC, NGOs, civil society, and other partners to manage the outbreak. Their efforts include providing machines for blood sample analysis, supporting laboratories in viral sequencing, aiding in case investigations and contact tracing, enhancing risk communication and community engagement, training health workers, and assisting countries in accessing and deploying vaccines.
To support these efforts, WHO has developed a regional response plan requiring an initial $15 million in funding. Already, $1.45 million has been released from the WHO contingency fund for emergencies, with more funds expected to be allocated soon. Ghebreyesus also called on donors to contribute to the remaining financial needs to fully implement the response plan.
“WHO is committed in the days and weeks ahead to coordinate the global response, working closely with each of the affected countries and leveraging our on-the-ground presence to prevent transmission, treat those infected, and save lives,” Ghebreyesus concluded.
Credit: TheCable
