Urgent meeting called by WHO amid rising cases
Africa is on the brink of a significant mpox outbreak, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to convene an emergency meeting to assess whether the situation qualifies as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Currently, 15 African nations are grappling with mpox outbreaks, including four countries—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—that had previously been unaffected.
Alarming surge in cases and fatalities
According to the WHO, these 15 countries have reported a total of 2,030 confirmed mpox cases and 13 deaths in 2024 alone. The continent has also seen over 15,000 suspected cases this year, with more than 500 fatalities. This marks a dramatic increase compared to the 1,145 cases and seven deaths reported in the previous year. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern over the rapid spread of the virus.
New variant driving the crisis
A staggering 90% of the reported cases have originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where a new and deadly variant has been circulating since September 2023. The clade 1b variant, which has a 10% mortality rate among children, is now crossing borders, complicating containment efforts. This variant is harder to detect due to mutations that evade existing diagnostic tests and is suspected of causing numerous deaths in Burundi, South Africa, and the DRC.
Scientists attribute the outbreak in previously unaffected regions to this variant, citing inadequate preventive measures. “The most severe and lethal Clade 1 mpox, historically endemic to central Africa, has become predominant and is now found throughout the region,” said Dr. Zeil Rosenberg, Executive Vice President at Tonix Pharmaceuticals, which is developing a mpox vaccine, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
Understanding mpox and its spread
Mpox is typically transmitted through direct contact with infected animals, such as virus-carrying squirrels. However, new variants of the virus may also spread through human-to-human contact. The virus belongs to the same family as the one responsible for smallpox. Infected individuals often develop a rash that progresses through various stages, including scabbing, before eventually healing.
As Africa confronts this escalating health crisis, the international community watches closely, with the WHO’s upcoming decision likely to have significant global implications.