Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared mpox outbreak in parts of Africa as a global public health emergency.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus. First identified in monkeys in 1958, it is more commonly found in various rodents and primates in Central and West Africa. The virus is part of the Orthopoxvirus genus, which also includes variola virus (the cause of smallpox) and cowpox virus.
The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement indicated that Mpox has been documented in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for over ten years, with a consistent rise in the number of cases reported each year.
He pointed out that in 2023 a sharp increase was seen in reported cases, and the number of cases recorded this year has already surpassed last year’s total, with over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths and WHO has been actively addressing the mpox outbreak in Africa and has been sounding the alarm that this is a matter of global concern.
Tedros indicated that last week, he announced that he would be convening an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to assess the surge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African nations.
“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.”
“WHO is committed in the days and weeks ahead to coordinate the global response, working closely with each of the affected countries, and leveraging our on-the-ground presence, to prevent transmission, treat those infected, and save lives,” said Tedros.
In a study reported earlier this year by scientists at Unity Health Toronto, the Sunnybrook Research Institute, and the University of Toronto revealed that DNA from the mpox virus may continue in various body parts for up to 4 weeks following the onset of symptoms.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, indicated that they are already making significant strides in collaboration with communities and governments, with their teams on the ground working to strengthen measures to control the spread of mpox. As the virus continues to spread, they are ramping up our efforts through coordinated international actions to assist countries in bringing these outbreaks to an end.
Committee Chair, Professor Dimie Ogoina, expressed concern, stating that the recent surge in mpox cases across parts of Africa, along with the emergence of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, presents a critical emergency, not just for Africa but for the world at large. Professor Ogoina indicated that Mpox, which originated in Africa, was overlooked there, leading to a global outbreak in 2022, further indicating that it is crucial that decisive action is taken now to prevent history from repeating itself.
WHO stated that this is the second time in two years that a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) has been declared due to mpox. Mpox, an illness caused by an Orthopoxvirus, was first identified in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The disease is considered endemic in certain countries in Central and West Africa.
In July 2022, a multi-country mpox outbreak was classified as a PHEIC after it spread rapidly through sexual contact in various nations where the virus had previously not been observed. This PHEIC designation was lifted in May 2023 following a consistent global decrease in cases.
It was further indicated that mpox has been observed in the DRC for over a decade, with the number of cases gradually increasing each year. Last year saw a notable spike in reported cases, and this year has already surpassed last year’s total, with over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths recorded.
The recent emergence and swift spread of a new virus strain in the DRC, clade 1b, which seems to be primarily transmitted through sexual networks, and its detection in neighboring countries, is particularly alarming. This is one of the key reasons behind the declaration of the PHEIC.
