Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, the World Health Organisation announced on Wednesday that the surge of mpox in Africa has evolved into a global public health emergency.
In response, the WHO has convened a panel of experts to analyze the outbreak and provide recommendations to the Director-General of the UN health agency, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
During a press conference, Tedros revealed, “Today, the emergency committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice.”
Expressing the gravity of the situation, Tedros stated, “This is something that should concern us all.”
Committing to lead the global response effort in the coming days and weeks, the WHO aims to collaborate closely with the affected countries and utilize their on-ground presence to prevent further transmission, provide treatment to the infected individuals, and ultimately save lives.
This declaration follows the African Union’s health watchdog announcing its own public health emergency in light of the escalating outbreak.
Originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the virus, formerly known as monkeypox, was identified in humans in 1970, mpox has now crossed borders into other nations.
Providing alarming statistics, Tedros disclosed that the number of cases has surpassed 14,000, with 524 reported deaths in DR Congo this year, already exceeding the total for the previous year.
Tedros raised concerns over the rapid spread of clade 1b in DRC, particularly through sexual networks, and its detection in neighboring countries, such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
– Significance of PHEIC status –
A public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) is the most severe alarm that the WHO can issue, activating emergency responses worldwide under the legally binding International Health Regulations.
This marks the second consecutive PHEIC declaration related to mpox, focusing on a different, more lethal strain of the virus this time.
In a previous surge of mpox infections in May 2022, predominantly affecting gay and bisexual men due to the clade 2b subclade, the WHO declared a PHEIC lasting from July 2022 to May 2023. While the outbreak has largely subsided, it resulted in approximately 140 fatalities out of around 90,000 cases.
Compared to clade 2b, the clade 1b subclade currently surging in DRC since September 2023 induces more severe symptoms with a higher fatality rate.
Mpox is an infectious disease originating from a virus transmitted to humans through infected animals, with potential human-to-human transmission through close physical contact.
WHO recommends two vaccines for mpox as preventive measures.
Previously, a PHEIC has been declared only seven times since 2009, encompassing H1N1 swine flu, poliovirus, Ebola, Zika virus, Ebola again, Covid-19, and mpox.
– Preparedness and resource allocation –
Addressing the implications of a PHEIC, Marion Koopmans, the director of the Pandemic and Disaster Management Centre at Erasmus University Rotterdam, emphasized that it enhances global alertness levels and may facilitate WHO in accessing funds for emergency response.
However, Koopmans stressed the ongoing priorities regarding investment in diagnostic capabilities, public health responses, treatment support, and vaccination, underscoring the resource constraints faced by DRC and neighboring countries.
Despite possessing resources and basic public health infrastructure, the international outbreak that commenced in 2022 was not effectively contained.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Red Cross is intensifying preparedness efforts across Africa, particularly in the severely impacted eastern DRC.
Expressing deep concern over the virus spread, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies affirmed their readiness to play a pivotal role in curtailing the disease’s propagation, even in remote and challenging areas with the highest need.
AFP