The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared monkeypox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following the spread of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to neighboring countries.
On August 14, the WHO Emergency Committee met to advise Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on whether this outbreak constitutes a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC).
PHEIC is the highest alert level of the WHO, issued to promote research, funding, the implementation of international public health measures, and collaboration to control outbreaks.
A new strain of monkeypox is rapidly spreading in Africa.
“We need an international response to curb this outbreak,” Tedros stated.
The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began with the spread of an endemic strain known as clade I. However, a new variant – clade Ib – appears to be more easily transmitted through frequent close contact, including sexual relations.
This outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
“The rapid spread of the new monkeypox variant in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, extending to neighboring countries that have not previously reported cases, and the potential for further spread across Africa and to other continents is concerning,” Tedros remarked.
The WHO Director-General indicated that the organization has disbursed $1.5 million from its contingency fund and plans to allocate more in the coming days. The WHO’s response plan will require an initial budget of $15 million, and the agency intends to appeal for financial support from donors.
Earlier this week, Africa’s leading public health agency declared a monkeypox emergency on the continent, following warnings that the virus is spreading at an alarming rate. Since the beginning of the year, there have been over 17,000 suspected cases and more than 500 deaths, primarily among children in the Congo.
Professor Dimie Ogoina, chair of the WHO emergency committee on monkeypox, stated that all committee members agreed that the current increase in cases is “an unusual phenomenon,” with record numbers of cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The WHO previously declared a global emergency for monkeypox in 2022.
The WHO noted that further research is needed on the transmission pathways of the disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the population has not been vaccinated. The WHO calls on countries with vaccine reserves to contribute to support efforts.
| Monkeypox can spread through close contact. The disease typically causes mild symptoms, but in some cases, it can be fatal. Symptoms include flu-like manifestations and pus-filled lesions on the body. |
