The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), signifying the highest level of global health alert under international law,leadership reports.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the decision following a virtual meeting of the organization’s emergency committee on Wednesday.
This declaration comes amid rising concerns over the spread of a more dangerous strain of the mpox virus, known as clade Ib, which has recently been detected in four previously unaffected provinces in Africa. This strain, known for its higher transmissibility and more severe symptoms, was previously confined to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The PHEIC designation is reserved for “extraordinary events” that pose a significant public health risk through the international spread of disease and may require a coordinated global response. WHO’s decision highlights the seriousness of the mpox outbreak and the urgent need for international collaboration to contain it.
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Notably, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) had already declared the outbreak a public health emergency of continental security on Tuesday, marking the first such declaration in the agency’s history since its establishment in 2017.
According to Africa CDC data, over 17,000 mpox cases and more than 500 deaths have been reported across 13 African countries this year. The DRC has been the hardest hit, accounting for over 14,000 cases and 96% of the confirmed infections reported this month alone.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that spreads easily through close contact, including touching, kissing, or sexual activity, as well as through contaminated materials like clothing and bedding. The virus causes symptoms such as fever, a painful rash, headaches, muscle and back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
Historically, mpox was primarily found in Central and West Africa, but it began spreading to Europe and North America in 2022. WHO had previously declared a global health emergency for mpox in July 2022, which was lifted in May 2023.
The mpox virus is classified into two genetic clades, I and II, with clade Ib now recognized for its increased transmissibility and severity. WHO officials have previously suggested that the virus could be contained effectively if the right measures are taken promptly.
To strengthen the fight against the outbreak, WHO has approved the Emergency Use Listing for mpox vaccines and developed a regional response plan requiring $15 million in funding, of which $1.45 million has already been allocated.
The international health community is now being called upon to intensify efforts in financing and organizing a response to this rapidly escalating crisis.
