The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has declared the rising monkeypox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and various African countries a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR).
Dr. Tedros made this announcement following recommendations from an Emergency Committee of experts who reviewed data from WHO and affected nations. The Committee underscored the potential for monkeypox to spread beyond Africa.
Dr. Tedros stressed the necessity of a global coordinated response to tackle the new strain of monkeypox and its swift transmission in the DRC and neighboring regions.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, stated, “Significant efforts are already in progress in close collaboration with communities and governments, with our country teams working on the frontlines to fortify measures to curb mpox. With the virus’s growing spread, we’re scaling up further through coordinated international action to support countries in ending the outbreaks.”
Committee Chair Professor Dimie Ogoina emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the current surge of monkeypox, especially the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain, needs immediate international attention to address the outbreaks effectively.
Professor Dimie Ogoina remarked, “The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, is an emergency, not only for Africa, but for the entire globe. Mpox, originating in Africa, was neglected there, and later caused a global outbreak in 2022. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself.”
This PHEIC determination marks the second in two years concerning mpox. Mpox, caused by an Orthopoxvirus, was first detected in humans in 1970 in the DRC. The disease is endemic to countries in central and west Africa.
In July 2022, the multi-country outbreak of mpox was declared a PHEIC as it spread rapidly via sexual contact across various countries where the virus had not been previously observed. That PHEIC was declared over in May 2023 after a sustained decline in global cases.
Mpox has been reported in the DRC for more than a decade, with an annual increase in reported cases. Last year, cases surged significantly, and this year’s reported cases have already surpassed last year’s total, with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths.
The emergence and rapid spread of a new virus strain in DRC, clade 1b, which appears to spread mainly through sexual networks, and its detection in neighboring countries is particularly concerning and one of the main reasons for the PHEIC declaration.
In the past month, over 100 laboratory-confirmed cases of clade 1b have been reported in four countries neighboring the DRC that had not previously reported mpox: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Experts believe the actual number of cases to be higher as many clinically compatible cases have not been tested.
Several outbreaks of different mpox clades have occurred in various countries, with different transmission modes and risk levels.
The two vaccines currently in use for mpox are recommended by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization and approved by WHO-listed national regulatory authorities, as well as by individual countries including Nigeria and the DRC.
Last week, the Director-General initiated the Emergency Use Listing process for mpox vaccines, which will speed up vaccine access for lower-income countries lacking national regulatory approval. Emergency Use Listing also enables partners like Gavi and UNICEF to procure vaccines for distribution.
WHO is collaborating with countries and vaccine manufacturers on potential vaccine donations, and coordinating with partners through the interim Medical Countermeasures Network to ensure equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other tools.
WHO anticipates an immediate funding need of an initial US$ 15 million to support surveillance, preparedness, and response activities. A needs assessment is being conducted across the three levels of the Organization.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has declared the rising monkeypox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and various African countries a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR).
Dr. Tedros made this announcement following recommendations from an Emergency Committee of experts who reviewed data from WHO and affected nations. The Committee underscored the potential for monkeypox to spread beyond Africa.
Dr. Tedros stressed the necessity of a global coordinated response to tackle the new strain of monkeypox and its swift transmission in the DRC and neighboring regions.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, stated, “Significant efforts are already in progress in close collaboration with communities and governments, with our country teams working on the frontlines to fortify measures to curb mpox. With the virus’s growing spread, we’re scaling up further through coordinated international action to support countries in ending the outbreaks.”
Committee Chair Professor Dimie Ogoina emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the current surge of monkeypox, especially the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain, needs immediate international attention to address the outbreaks effectively.
Professor Dimie Ogoina remarked, “The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, is an emergency, not only for Africa, but for the entire globe. Mpox, originating in Africa, was neglected there, and later caused a global outbreak in 2022. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself.”
This PHEIC determination marks the second in two years concerning mpox. Mpox, caused by an Orthopoxvirus, was first detected in humans in 1970 in the DRC. The disease is endemic to countries in central and west Africa.
In July 2022, the multi-country outbreak of mpox was declared a PHEIC as it spread rapidly via sexual contact across various countries where the virus had not been previously observed. That PHEIC was declared over in May 2023 after a sustained decline in global cases.
Mpox has been reported in the DRC for more than a decade, with an annual increase in reported cases. Last year, cases surged significantly, and this year’s reported cases have already surpassed last year’s total, with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths.
The emergence and rapid spread of a new virus strain in DRC, clade 1b, which appears to spread mainly through sexual networks, and its detection in neighboring countries is particularly concerning and one of the main reasons for the PHEIC declaration.
In the past month, over 100 laboratory-confirmed cases of clade 1b have been reported in four countries neighboring the DRC that had not previously reported mpox: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Experts believe the actual number of cases to be higher as many clinically compatible cases have not been tested.
Several outbreaks of different mpox clades have occurred in various countries, with different transmission modes and risk levels.
The two vaccines currently in use for mpox are recommended by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization and approved by WHO-listed national regulatory authorities, as well as by individual countries including Nigeria and the DRC.
Last week, the Director-General initiated the Emergency Use Listing process for mpox vaccines, which will speed up vaccine access for lower-income countries lacking national regulatory approval. Emergency Use Listing also enables partners like Gavi and UNICEF to procure vaccines for distribution.
WHO is collaborating with countries and vaccine manufacturers on potential vaccine donations, and coordinating with partners through the interim Medical Countermeasures Network to ensure equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other tools.
WHO anticipates an immediate funding need of an initial US$ 15 million to support surveillance, preparedness, and response activities. A needs assessment is being conducted across the three levels of the Organization.
To facilitate an immediate scale-up, WHO has allocated US$ 1.45 million from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies and may need to release more in the coming days. The Organization appeals to donors to fund the full extent of needs for the mpox response.
