WHO Raises Alarm on Mpox Surge: A New Pandemic Threat?
Posted on Aug 26, 2024 at 09:08 PM
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has convened a conference to assess the global alarm level for Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, based on international health legislation, a PHEIC.
Recently, Tedros stated in a tweet on the social networking site X, that “the Emergency Committee's advice to me and that of the Africa CDC, which yesterday declared a public health emergency of regional security, are aligned.”
Cases and Classifications
In Africa, Mpox instances have been spreading, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its bordering nations of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The WHO director expressed concern about the possibility of further spread in Africa.
Over 14,000 Mpox cases and 524 fatalities have been documented this year, a significant increase from 2023, with Tedros citing multiple clades as the primary cause.
He stated during the conference lately that the DRC saw a transmission of the clade 1b virus last year, with “sexual networks” being the primary cause of the infection. It is said that this clade is more easily spread from person to person and is also deadlier.
Clade 1 has been active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for years, while Clade 2 caused the 2022 global epidemic and international public health emergency.
Tedros reported 90 cases of successor clade 1b in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo nations that had not reported any Mpox cases in the past month.
Resolving the Causes of Outbreaks
The head of WHO stated that to “understand and address the drivers of these outbreaks,” the UN organisation is collaborating with the governments of the impacted nations, the Africa CDC, and other partners.
“For example, we are providing machines to analyse blood samples and confirm cases of MPO [and] supporting laboratories to sequence viral samples,” he informed.
He also cited “supporting case investigation and contact tracing” on the ground, training for health care staff, and much more.
WHO's Regional Reaction
“WHO has developed a regional response plan, requiring an initial $15 million to support surveillance, preparedness and response activities,” Mr. Tedros stated.
The WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies provided $1.45 million to support this response.
In addition to the WHO chief's request for more donor assistance, extra money will be distributed in the next several days.
Immediate Vaccinations
Two WHO-recommended and authorised vaccinations are now in use to address the Mpox virus outbreak.
Tedros also asked Mpox vaccine producers to indicate interest in making the vaccinations under an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) request just recently, aiming to “accelerate vaccine access for lower-income countries which have not yet issued their own national regulatory approval.”
EUL will facilitate the collection of vaccinations for distribution by partners such as UNICEF.
WHO Guidelines
Last year, the head of WHO published long-term guidelines for tracking Mpox cases under the IHR.
To “assist countries in responding to the chronic risk of Mpox,” these guidelines, which were scheduled to expire on August 20, 2024, will be extended for an additional year.
Enhancing community protection through localised public health and social measures, offering resources and advice for clinical Mpox care delivery, and other suggestions are only a few of the suggestions.
The ongoing Mpox outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the importance of swift action and international coordination in addressing global health threats. As the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, pandemics are not just local issues but global challenges that require a united response. Collaboration between countries and global health organizations is not just an option—it's a necessity to safeguard public health.
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