Mpox Declared a Health Emergency by WHO

On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) made a big announcement, calling the mpox epidemic an «international health emergency.» This comes after a rise in cases, especially in Africa, and just one day after a new case was reported in Sweden.

Mpox, which is sometimes referred to as simian smallpox, is an infectious disease that can be spread from infected animals to humans. It can also pass between people through close physical contact. Symptoms usually show up as a rash or skin lesions, particularly on the face, hands, and feet. Although most cases resolve on their own within two to three weeks, the rising case numbers are alarming.

A more dangerous strain of the virus, known as «clade Ib,» was detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in September 2023. This new strain is more deadly and easier to spread than the previous versions. So far this year, the DRC has reported over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths from mpox, which is already more than in 2023.

The DRC is not new to mpox outbreaks, having seen these waves for more than ten years. The WHO had also issued global alerts in July 2022 when cases began to rise significantly. They encouraged countries to share vaccines and learn from past health emergencies to combat this current crisis.

There are two effective vaccines available against mpox, one of which is known to be 85% effective based on previous smallpox vaccinations. However, since smallpox was eradicated in 1980, many people haven’t had these vaccines and may not be immune.