The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), its highest level of alert, in response to a new variant of the mpox virus spreading in Africa.
On Wednesday, the WHO reported that cases of mpox have been detected in 13 African countries, and the new variant is rapidly spreading. This marks the second time in two years that the WHO has issued such an alert for mpox, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has since spread to neighboring countries.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the decision, saying, “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.” He emphasized the seriousness of the situation, adding, “This is something that should concern us all.”
Tedros also stated that WHO is committed to coordinating the global response in the coming days and weeks, working closely with the affected countries to prevent the virus’s transmission, treat those infected, and save lives.
The PHEIC declaration is expected to expedite research, funding, and international cooperation to contain the disease. It also activates emergency responses under the legally binding International Health Regulations. Mpox, typically spread through close contact, is usually mild but can be fatal in rare cases, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body. The outbreak in the DRC began with a strain known as clade I, but a new variant, clade Ib, appears to be spreading more easily, with cases reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Earlier this week, Africa’s leading public health body declared an mpox emergency for the continent, citing the rapid spread of the virus. More than 17,000 suspected cases and 517 deaths have been reported across Africa this year, representing a 160 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ngashi Ngongo, chief of staff of the regional health body, told Al Jazeera that an agreement had been reached with the EU’s health task force and mpox vaccine manufacturer Bavarian Nordic to supply Africa with an initial 215,000 doses of the vaccine. Negotiations are ongoing to secure two million doses by the end of the year and ten million by the end of 2025.
Ngongo also highlighted efforts to spread awareness through media campaigns on television, radio, and social media, particularly targeting young people, who account for 60 percent of the cases in the DRC.
This is the second time in two years that the WHO has declared a PHEIC for mpox. A different variant, clade IIb, spread globally in 2022, primarily through sexual contact among men who have sex with men. That outbreak, which resulted in approximately 140 deaths out of 90,000 cases, led to a PHEIC declaration that lasted from July 2022 to May 2023.
In response to the current outbreak, the Red Cross has announced it is scaling up preparedness efforts across Africa, particularly in eastern DRC. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies expressed deep concern about the virus’s spread and committed to playing a crucial role in containing the disease, especially in hard-to-reach areas.