Mpox Declared Global Health Emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox, previously known as monkeypox, a global health emergency due to rising cases in Central Africa. This comes as a new strain, clade 1b, spreads rapidly, catching the attention of health officials around the world.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the epicenter of this outbreak, particularly around the city of Goma. The DRC has reported around 27,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths since the outbreak began in January 2023, mostly affecting children.

In a recent development, Swedish health authorities reported their first case of clade 1b, marking the first instance of this strain outside Africa. Health officials indicated that this person likely contracted the virus during a visit to the DRC.

As concerns grow, the UK Health Security Agency has ramped up preparations, even though they currently have no reported cases. They are ensuring that clinicians are equipped to identify potential cases quickly, while testing capabilities are being improved.

Moreover, the WHO is actively engaged in conversations with biotech firms to increase the availability of mpox vaccines. Bavarian Nordic, a Danish firm, is considering ramping up production even without confirmed orders to address the urgent need for health interventions in Africa.

The WHO has identified clade 1b as particularly concerning because it appears associated with higher morbidity and mortality rates compared to previous strains. The organization is calling for coordinated international efforts to manage the ongoing outbreak in the region.

In response to the looming health crisis, the Congolese Health Minister announced that they hope to receive their first batch of mpox vaccines soon, thanks to support from the U.S. and Japan.