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STORY: :: The World Health Organization declares

mpox a global public health emergency

:: August 14, 2024

:: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

"Today, the emergency committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern." // "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." // "It's clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives."

Determining a disease outbreak as a "public health emergency of international concern" or PHEIC — the WHO's highest level of alert — can accelerate research, funding and international public health measures and co-operation to contain a disease.

Mpox can spread through close contact. Usually mild, it is fatal in rare cases. It causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.

The outbreak in Congo began with the spread of an endemic strain, known as clade I. But a new variant, clade Ib, appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, including sexual contact. It has spread from Congo to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, triggering the action from the WHO.

Earlier this week, Africa's top public health body declared an mpox emergency for the continent after warning that the viral infection was spreading at an alarming rate.