WHO Sets Global Emergency Monkeypox After Infection Spreads In Congo And Neighboring Countries

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared a global emergency status of monkeypox or mpox for the second time in two years, following the outbreak of viral infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo and spreading to neighboring countries.

The emergency committee met earlier on Wednesday to inform WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of whether the disease outbreak was a "public health emergency of international concern," or PHEIC.

PHEIC status is the WHO's highest level of vigilance and aims to accelerate research, funding, and international public health measures as well as cooperation to address the disease.

"It is clear that coordinated international responses are critical to stopping this outbreak and saving lives," Tedros said.

Mpox can spread through close contact. Usually mild, but fatal in rare cases. This disease causes flu-like symptoms and lesions containing pus in the body.

The outbreak in Congo stems from the spread of endemic strains, known as klade I. However, the new variant, Klade Ib, appears to spread more easily through regular close contact, including sexual intercourse.

This variant has spread from Congo to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, which sparked action from WHO.

"The detection and rapid deployment of the new MPX klade in the eastern DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that previously did not report ampx, and the potential for further deployment in Africa and its surroundings are very worrying," Tedros said.

Tedros said on Wednesday the WHO had issued an emergency fund of 1.5 million US dollars and plans to spend more in the coming days. The WHO's response plan will require initial funding of 15 million US dollars and the agency plans to seek donor assistance for funding.

Chairman of the WHO Mpox Emergency Committee Professor Dimie Ogoina said all members unanimously agreed that the current spike in cases was an "extraordinary event," with the number of cases breaking the record in Congo.

Earlier this week, Africa's highest public health agency declared a state of emergency for the continent, after warning of the virus infection spreading at an alarming rate, with more than 17,000 suspected cases and more than 500 deaths this year, especially among children in the Congo.

Vaccines and behavioral changes help stop the spread as different types ofmpox spread globally, especially among men having sex with men, and WHO declared a state of emergency in 2022.

In Congo, transmission lines need to be studied further, the WHO said. No vaccines are yet available, although efforts are being made to change it and find out who is best to target. The agency also appealed to countries that have supplies to donate vaccines.