Mpox Outbreak News: World Health Organization (WHO) declares global emergency; here is what its 'public health emergency of international concern' means

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared a global emergency due to the Mpox outbreak. After an emergency meeting of the organisation's Emergency Committee, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the threat this time is deadlier. Mpox can spread through close contact. Those most at risk include women and children under 15.

"Mpox has been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for more than a decade. The number of cases reported each year has increased steadily over that year. Last year, the reported cases increased significantly and already the number of cases reported so far this year has exceeded last year's total with more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths," he said in a media briefing shared on microblogging site X (formerly Twitter). 

"As many of you who tune into our regular press conferences know WHO has been working on the Mpox outbreak in Africa and raising the alarm that is something that should concern us all," he said. 

Watch here: 

LIVE: Media briefing with @DrTedros on outcome of the #mpox Emergency Committee meeting https://t.co/oghcXCgqcl

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) August 14, 2024

Last week, the WHO convened an emergency committee meeting under international health regulations to evaluate the upsurge of Mpox in Congo and other African countries. 

Dr Ghebreyesus said that he was advised by the panel that the situation constitutes "a public (health) emergency of international concern (PHEIC)".

PHEIC status is the WHO's highest level of alert and aims to accelerate research, funding and international public health measures and cooperation to contain a disease.

"It's clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives," said Dr Tedros.

Mpox has spread from Congo to neighbouring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, necessitating WHO action.

The outbreak has spread through 13 countries in Africa, including a few that had never reported Mpox cases before.

The outbreak in Congo began with the spread of Clade I, an endemic strain. However, the new variant, Clade Ib, appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, particularly among children.

Usually mild, it is fatal in rare cases. It causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.

With inputs from agencies