WHO Declares Global Health Emergency for Mpox

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern, marking the second such declaration in two years. This decision follows alarming reports of over 17,000 cases and more than 500 deaths across 13 African nations, driven by a new strain known as clade Ib that has spread beyond its previous containment in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Experts warn that the outbreak resembles the early days of HIV, particularly due to its transmission within sexual networks, amplifying concerns about stigma and the need for public health campaigns. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has also classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of continental security, emphasizing the urgent need for a coordinated international response. Furthermore, the WHO is calling for vaccine manufacturers to submit expressions of interest for emergency use listings to expedite access to vaccines in lower-income countries. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stresses the importance of rapid action to prevent further spread of the virus.