WHO Declares Global Health Emergency as Mpox Surges in Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the ongoing surge of Mpox in Africa is now a global public health emergency, marking it as a situation of the highest concern.

Mpox is a viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, as well as between humans through close physical contact. It causes symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and large, painful skin lesions. WHO recommends two vaccines for Mpox, which have been approved by immunization experts

WHO experts met to discuss the situation and recommended that the organization’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declare a global health emergency.

The outbreak has particularly affected the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Mpox known as Monkeypox was first identified in humans in 1970.

This year, the DRC reported over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths from Mpox, surpassing last year’s totals. The virus is spreading rapidly, mainly through sexual networks.

This is the second time a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) has been declared for Mpox, although the current focus is on a different and more dangerous strain. The first declaration was in 2022 due to a global outbreak of a less deadly strain, which primarily affected gay and bisexual men.

One of the biggest challenges in addressing the Mpox outbreak is the lack of resources in the affected countries. In response to the crisis, the Red Cross is ramping up its preparedness efforts across Africa, especially in the eastern DRC, where the outbreak is most severe

The WHO plans to work closely with affected countries to coordinate a global response, aiming to prevent further transmission of the virus.