WHO declares Mpox a global health emergency again

The WHO’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is its highest level of alert. Designating a disease outbreak as a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC), the WHO can expedite research, funding, and global public health efforts to control and contain the disease.

This is the second time in three years that the WHO has declared an mpox epidemic a global emergency, having previously done so in July 2022. That outbreak eventually impacted nearly 100,000 people, primarily gay and bisexual men, in 116 countries and resulted in approximately 200 deaths.

The current threat is more severe. The number of cases has skyrocketed this year with the Democratic Republic of Congo alone has reported over 14,000 mpox cases and 524 deaths. Women and children under 15 are among those most at risk, prompting the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to also declare an mpox emergency.

Earlier this week, Africa’s leading public health authority declared an mpox emergency for the continent, citing the rapid spread of the viral infection. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 17,000 suspected mpox cases and more than 500 deaths in Africa this year, marking a 160% increase in cases compared to the same period last year. Thirteen countries across the continent have reported cases.

“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 Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s Director-General.