Geneva —The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern on Wednesday following the outbreak of a new and more lethal strain of Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, in Africa. The outbreak, which originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has raised alarm due to its rapid spread and the severity of the disease.
This decision marks the highest alert level issued by the WHO and comes after extensive deliberation by the organization’s Emergency Committee, which includes 16 global health experts. The declaration reflects growing concerns over the potential for the outbreak to extend beyond the African continent.
“The Emergency Committee has confirmed and advised me that, in its view, the situation constitutes a public emergency of international concern. I have accepted the advice,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during a press conference following the committee’s meeting.
Dr. Tedros highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting the swift expansion of the outbreak within the DRC and its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported Mpox cases. “The detection and rapid expansion of a new Mpox climate in western DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that have not previously reported Mpox, and the potential for broader expansion in Africa and beyond, is very worrying,” he stated.
The scale of the outbreak is unprecedented, with over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths reported this year, surpassing the total number of cases recorded in the previous year. The WHO’s announcement comes a day after the African Centre for Disease Control declared a continental health emergency in response to the situation.
The new variant of Mpox, identified earlier this year in the DRC, has spread primarily through sexual transmission, according to WHO reports. In the past month, the virus has been detected in four neighboring countries—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—where Mpox cases had not been previously reported. These developments are particularly alarming for health officials, given the potential for the virus to spread further across the continent and possibly beyond.
Global Health Concerns and International Response
The WHO’s declaration follows a similar situation in 2022 when the organization declared a global health emergency due to an Mpox outbreak that affected dozens of countries outside Africa. At that time, the disease had already been endemic to Africa, but the international spread highlighted the global vulnerability to emerging infectious diseases.
In Europe, the risk of the new Mpox strain reaching the continent has been assessed as “very low” by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Despite this, the ECDC remains vigilant and has emphasized the importance of supporting African efforts to contain the outbreak.
“The risk to the population of the European Union from the new Mpox variant identified in the DRC remains very low. ECDC is working with our partners in Africa in their efforts to contain this outbreak for the benefit of all those affected, to prevent the further spread of this new variant and to strengthen future preparedness and response capacities,” said ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner.
Efforts to Contain the Outbreak
As part of the international response, the WHO and the African Centre for Disease Control are coordinating efforts to enhance surveillance, improve laboratory capacities, and accelerate vaccine distribution in the affected regions. The new strain’s emergence has underscored the need for global cooperation in addressing public health threats, particularly those that have the potential to cross borders and impact global health security.
The WHO’s declaration of a public health emergency of international concern is expected to mobilize resources and attention from governments, international organizations, and the private sector. However, the challenges ahead are significant, as health systems in the affected regions are already under strain from other endemic diseases, including malaria and Ebola.
