According to the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has determined that the outbreak of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and an increasing number of African countries qualifies as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
On the recommendation of an independent expert panel called the IHR Emergency Committee, which convened earlier in the day to examine data submitted by WHO and affected country experts, Dr. Tedros made his announcement. The Committee notified the Director-General that it believed the mpox outbreak to be a PHEIC, having the potential to spread to other African nations as well as possibly beyond.
The Director-General shall distribute the Committee’s meeting report and, acting upon the Committee’s guidance, make interim recommendations to nations.
“The development of a novel clade of mpox, its rapid dissemination in eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in multiple neighboring countries are quite concerning,” Dr. Tedros said in declaring the PHEIC. In addition to additional mpox clade epidemics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African nations, it is evident that a concerted international response is required to contain these outbreaks and save lives.
“Significant efforts are already underway in close coordination with communities and governments, with our country teams working on the frontlines to help reinforce measures to limit mpox,” stated Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director of WHO for Africa. Along with the
“The current outbreak of mpox in parts of Africa, together with the development of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, is an emergency, not only for Africa but for the entire planet,” stated committee chair Professor Dimie Ogoina. Originating in Africa, mpox was ignored there until 2022, when it spread over the world. It is time to take urgent action to stop history from happening again.”
This PHEIC determination for mpox is the second in the last two years. Mpox, first reported in humans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970, is caused by an orthopoxvirus. It is believed that the illness is endemic to nations in central and western Africa.
The rapid sexual transmission of the multi-country mpox outbreak led to its classification as a PHEIC in July 2022.
For almost a decade, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been the source of reports of mpox, with an annual increase in cases observed throughout that time. The number of cases recorded climbed dramatically the previous year, and as of yet, this year’s tally of almost 15,600 cases and 537 deaths has surpassed that of the previous year.
One of the main reasons for the PHEIC declaration was the appearance and rapid spread of clade 1b, a novel virus strain that appeared to be mostly transmitted through sexual networks and was detected in neighboring countries last year. This strain is extremely alarming.
Within the
Several outbreaks of different clades of mpox have occurred in different countries, with different modes of transmission and different levels of risk.
The two vaccines currently in use for mpox are recommended by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization and are also approved by WHO-listed national regulatory authorities, as well as by individual countries including Nigeria and the DRC.
Last week, the Director-General triggered the process for emergency use listing for mpox vaccines, which will accelerate vaccine access for lower-income countries that have not yet issued their own national regulatory approval. Emergency Use Listing also enables partners, including Gavi and UNICEF, to procure vaccines for distribution.
WHO is working with countries and vaccine manufacturers on potential vaccine donations and coordinating with partners through the interim Medical Countermeasures Network to facilitate equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other tools.
WHO anticipates an immediate funding requirement of an initial US$15 million to support surveillance, preparedness, and response activities. A needs assessment is being undertaken across the three levels of the organization.
To allow for an immediate scale-up, WHO has released US$ 1.45 million from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies and may need to release more in the coming days. The organization appeals to donors to fund the full extent of the needs of the MPOX response.
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