A growing mpox outbreak in Africa is raising concerns about a potential global health emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) is considering declaring a public health emergency of international concern due to the escalating situation. The outbreak, primarily centered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has seen over 14,000 cases reported this year. This represents a significant increase compared to previous years, with the virus spreading to previously unaffected provinces within the DRC.
The outbreak has also spread beyond the DRC’s borders, with confirmed cases reported in neighboring countries like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. This regional spread has heightened concerns about the potential for a wider international spread. The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has announced the convening of an Emergency Committee to assess the situation and advise on whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
Adding to the gravity of the situation is the emergence of a new, more lethal clade of the mpox virus, known as clade 1b. This clade, which emerged in September 2023 in the DRC, has a higher case-fatality rate compared to the clade that fueled the 2022-2023 global outbreak. While clade 1 viruses have historically been confined to regions where mpox regularly spreads, such as the DRC, the emergence of clade 1b and its spread beyond the DRC raise concerns about its potential to reach new locations.
The WHO is taking steps to address the outbreak, including releasing funding to bolster response efforts in affected countries and working to improve access to available mpox vaccines. A clinical trial is also being launched in Africa to evaluate the effectiveness of these vaccines as a post-exposure treatment. While the U.S. experienced a surge of clade 2 mpox cases earlier in the year, case numbers have been declining over the summer. However, the ongoing outbreak in Africa presents a new and potentially more dangerous threat, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to prevent further spread.
