The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency, raising alarms over the spread of a highly infectious variant. The declaration follows a similar one by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, as the virus has begun to spread beyond the continent, with initial cases reported in Sweden and Pakistan.
Since 2022, nearly 100,000 cases and 1,100 deaths have been reported across 116 countries. The outbreak involves two strains of the mpox virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo: an endemic version and a newer, less understood variant. The latter has spread rapidly through sexual and close contact, affecting vulnerable populations, including children in displacement camps across Congo and neighboring countries like Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya.
Transmission of mpox occurs through direct contact with infected lesions, contaminated materials such as clothing or linens, and animal-to-human interactions, including bites or handling of wildlife. Symptoms typically appear within 1 to 21 days of exposure and include rashes, fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. While the disease generally resolves within 2-4 weeks, it can be severe for those with compromised immune systems.
The heightened alert follows the identification of a new mpox strain believed to be more contagious and deadly than previous ones. The two mpox clades differ significantly in severity: Clade II, originating in West Africa, has a fatality rate of up to 1%, whereas Clade I, from Central Africa, can reach fatality rates of up to 10%.
In response, WHO is mobilizing international resources to contain the disease at its source. Enhanced global surveillance and open-source epidemic intelligence are essential, particularly in regions with limited testing capabilities. By monitoring symptoms like rashes and fever, health authorities aim to preempt further spread of the disease.