New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the recent surge in mpox— formally monkeypox virus (MPXV) cases across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and several other African nations a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This decision, announced by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, follows advice from an IHR Emergency Committee of independent experts.
The Committee’s review revealed a significant risk of mpox, including a new strain identified in the DRC, spreading further across Africa and beyond. Dr. Tedros emphasized the urgency of a coordinated international response to control the outbreak and safeguard lives.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, noted ongoing efforts to enhance containment measures, calling for increased international collaboration. Professor Dimie Ogoina, Chair of the Emergency Committee, stressed the critical nature of the situation, which echoes the global outbreak of 2022.
This is the second PHEIC for mpox in two years. The current outbreak has seen over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths in the DRC alone, with the new clade 1b spreading through sexual networks to neighboring countries.
The WHO has endorsed two vaccines for mpox and initiated Emergency Use Listing procedures to expedite access, especially for lower-income countries. The organization has allocated $1.45 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies and seeks $15 million in additional funding for surveillance and response efforts, appealing to donors for support.
