The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency due to the rapid spread of a new variant of the mpox (Monkey Pox) virus across 13 African countries.
This marks the second time in two years that the WHO has issued such a high-level alert for mpox, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The decision follows an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the virus has begun spreading to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency, stating, “This is something that should concern us all,” as he announced the emergency declaration at a press conference on Wednesday.
The PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) declaration is intended to mobilize international resources and cooperation to combat the outbreak.
The new variant, known as clade Ib, appears to spread more easily than its predecessor, clade I, which initially caused the DRC outbreak.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has reported over 17,000 suspected cases and 517 deaths on the continent this year alone, a significant increase from the previous year.
An agreement has been reached with the European Union’s health task force and vaccine manufacturer Bavarian Nordic to supply 215,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to Africa, with plans to distribute millions more by the end of 2025.