WHO declares mpox global health emergency

GENEVA – The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the mpox surge in Africa a global public health emergency, sounding its highest possible alarm over the worsening situation.

Worried by the rise in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the spread to nearby countries, the WHO hastily convened a meeting of experts to study the outbreak.

“Today, the emergency committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). I have accepted that advice,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference.

A PHEIC is the highest level of alarm under the International Health Regulations, which are legally binding on 196 countries.

“The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” said Tedros.

“It’s clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives. This is something that should concern us all,” he said.

The UN health agency’s decision comes the day after the African Union’s health watchdog declared its own public health emergency over the growing outbreak.

Tedros said the more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths reported so far this year in DR Congo had already exceeded last year’s total.

“The emergence last year and rapid spread of clade 1b in DRC, which appears to be spreading mainly through sexual networks, and its detection in countries neighboring DRC is especially concerning,” he said, citing Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

Dimie Ogoina, who chaired the emergency committee, said the 15 members present unanimously thought the mpox upsurge was an extraordinary event.

He said many members feared the known situation in Africa was “actually the tip of the iceberg,” because without more robust surveillance, “we don’t have the full picture.”

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director, insisted: “We can stop transmission of mpox with a concerted effort.”

But she said experts needed a “much better understanding of the epidemiology” and the transmission patterns, which would help make sure the limited number of vaccines could be deployed to best effect.

Two vaccines for mpox are recommended by WHO immunization experts.

Formerly called monkeypox, the virus was first discovered in humans in 1970 in what is now the DRC.

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact.

The disease causes fever, muscular aches and large boil-like skin lesions.

It is the second PHEIC in succession on mpox – although one focused on a different, and more deadly, strain of the virus.

‘Don’t panic’

In Manila, the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday advised the public not to panic but to stay alert following the WHO’s declaration of a public health emergency of international concern.?

DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said that Filipinos need to be alert but should not exaggerate on the issue of mpox.?

“We always say in public health, we have to be alert but should apply a right amount of paranoia. We also need to be knowledgeable on what to do so that we don’t get infected. We need to be careful,” Domingo said in a televised interview.?

The official stressed that though “the DOH’s Bureau of Quarantine has not added any measure to be observed by travelers, being on alert means for it to add possible question or questions to those going on a trip, especially to Africa.?

“It is even better (for the BOQ) to conduct an interview with those travelers coming from or going to Africa since it is important that they are also reminded of mpox and its symptoms,” said Domingo.

He said no mpox case was recorded in the country since December 2023.?

“The mpox case count in the Philippines remains to be nine. There were four cases detected in 2022. In 2023, there were five – one in May, one in July, and three in December,” he said.?

To prevent the spread of the virus, Domingo advised the public to maintain proper hygiene