By Ayomide Otitoju
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the recent surge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other African countries a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The declaration was made by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, following the advice of an Emergency Committee of independent experts under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR).
The decision comes in response to data reviewed by the Committee earlier in the day, highlighting the alarming rise of mpox cases in eastern DRC and its spread to neighboring countries. The Committee warned of the potential for the virus to extend beyond Africa, underscoring the need for a coordinated global response.
Dr. Tedros emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The emergence of a new clade of mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighboring countries are very worrying. A coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.”
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, reinforced the organization’s commitment, noting, “Significant efforts are already underway in collaboration with communities and governments. With the growing spread of the virus, we are scaling up further through coordinated international action to support countries in bringing the outbreaks to an end.”
Professor Dimie Ogoina, Chair of the Emergency Committee, also expressed concern, stating, “The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the virus, is an emergency not only for Africa but for the entire globe. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself.”
This marks the second PHEIC declaration related to mpox in just two years. Mpox, caused by an Orthopoxvirus, was first detected in humans in 1970 in the DRC and is endemic to countries in central and west Africa. In July 2022, a multi-country outbreak of mpox was declared a PHEIC as the virus spread rapidly via sexual contact in countries where it had not previously been reported. That PHEIC was declared over in May 2023 after a sustained decline in global cases.
Mpox has been present in the DRC for over a decade, with cases increasing steadily each year. Last year, the number of reported cases surged, and this year’s figures have already surpassed last year’s total, with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths reported.
The emergence of a new virus strain, clade 1b, in DRC last year, which appears to be spreading primarily through sexual networks, has heightened concerns. Over 100 laboratory-confirmed cases of clade 1b have been reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—countries that had not previously reported mpox. Experts believe the actual number of cases is higher, as many suspected cases have not been tested.
WHO is actively working to facilitate vaccine access, particularly in lower-income countries, through the Emergency Use Listing process and coordination with partners like Gavi and UNICEF. The organization estimates an immediate funding need of $15 million to support surveillance, preparedness, and response activities, with $1.45 million already released from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies.
Dr. Tedros will issue temporary recommendations to countries based on the Committee’s advice, as WHO continues its efforts to combat the spread of mpox and mitigate its impact across the affected regions.
