Image: NIAID, CC BY 2.0 Generic Deed
On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak in Africa to be a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).1 This decision comes after an upsurge of cases and deaths due to mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the recent detection of mpox in neighboring countries.1 With the majority of all cases in Africa being reported from the DRC, the country has borne the burden of this outbreak.1 Specifically, the DRC has faced over 27,000 cases and 800 deaths this past year, which has already exceeded the country’s total number of mpox cases from last year.1,2
Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus.3 This viral illness can be transmitted to humans from direct, physical contact with infected people and animals, as well as through contaminated objects.3 The virus often causes a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, and a fever.3 This disease can be treated with antiviral medications, and most people fully recover from it.3 An mpox vaccine is also currently available for those who have come into contact with an infected person.3
Although the 2022 outbreak of mpox in Europe and the United States was also declared a PHEIC previously, this outbreak appears to be different.1,4 While there are two strains of mpox currently circulating globally, one of the strains, Clade 1b, is the newest strain to emerge in Africa.4 This new strain appears to mainly be spreading through sexual contact, similar to the previous strain, but Clade 1b can also spread through non-sexual contact.4 Additionally, this current strain has concerningly caused more severe disease and more deaths in both children and adults so far.4
A PHEIC is defined by the WHO as “an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response.”5 The WHO issued an emergency declaration for this current mpox outbreak after independent experts on the International Health Regulations committee met.1 This emergency declaration will ideally prompt donor agencies and countries to take action to address this outbreak.6
Vaccines will most likely be effective in preventing the further spread of this new strain.6 The WHO has begun working with countries and vaccine manufacturers to provide access to the mpox vaccine for affected lower-income countries in Africa, which lack access to appropriate vaccines and treatments.1,6 However, the mpox outbreak has already spread to other continents, as Sweden recently reported the first case of this new mpox strain outside of Africa.7 With this concerning development, the global community must take action soon to support countries already dealing with the current mpox outbreak and to prevent the further spread of this disease elsewhere.
Sources:
- https://www.who.int/news/item/14-08-2024-who-director-general-declares-mpox-outbreak-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2vv0pgggqzo
- https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/emergencies-international-health-regulations-and-emergency-committees
- https://apnews.com/article/what-is-mpox-monkey-pox-congo-emergency-415d11f9e62d104b4c40dd8fe8e80b47
- https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/who-confirms-first-case-new-mpox-strain-outside-africa-outbreak-spreads-2024-08-15/
