MPox Outbreak: WHO Reiterates Public Health Emergency Status Amid Ongoing Rise in Cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed the status of Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern, amidst the ongoing resurgence of cases across Africa and other parts of the world.

In August this year, the WHO first declared the emergency, following an outbreak of a new form of mpox that spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries. The agency had convened its Emergency Committee and agreed with its advice that the upsurge of mpox continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern.

According to the WHO, the decision is based on the rising number and geographic spread of cases, operational challenges in the field, and the need to mount and sustain a cohesive response across countries and partners. The virus, which spreads through close contact, typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, but can be lethal in severe cases.

This year, Africa has reported over 46,000 suspected cases, mainly in Congo, with more than 1,000 suspected deaths. The label of "public health emergency of international concern" is the WHO's highest form of alert, which was also applied to a global outbreak of mpox in 2022-2023.

The alert has been issued due to the spread of a new variant of the virus, called clade Ib, which has been confirmed in countries including the UK, Germany, Sweden, and India. The WHO cleared Bavarian Nordic's vaccine for mpox in September after facing criticism on moving too slowly on vaccines, and earlier this month listed Japan's KM Biologics' shot for emergency use.

The continued spread of mpox has pushed health experts to call for increased vigilance and coordinated action to contain the outbreak. As the situation remains critical, one thing is clear: the public must remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of this virus.