The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern due to a new variant of the mpox viral disease in Africa. The new variant is spreading rapidly, with cases reported in 13 African countries. This is the second time in two years that the WHO has issued such an alert for mpox.
The outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and has spread to neighbouring countries, prompting the WHO to take action to prevent further transmission and save lives. The PHEIC declaration allows for increased research, funding, and international coordination to contain the disease.
Mpox can be fatal in rare cases and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body. The new variant, clade Ib, appears to be spreading more easily than the previous strain. The outbreak has already led to over 17,000 suspected cases and 517 deaths in Africa this year, a significant increase compared to last year.
The Red Cross is scaling up preparedness measures across Africa, particularly in the DRC, to contain the spread of the virus. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has expressed profound concern over the situation and is committed to playing a crucial role in addressing the outbreak.
This latest alert marks the second time in two years that the WHO has issued a PHEIC for the mpox virus. In 2022, a different form of the virus spread globally, causing some 140 deaths. The outbreak, which was largely contained by May 2023, was primarily transmitted through sexual contact among men who have sex with men.
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