The new Clade 1 variant, which has a higher fatality rate of up to 10%, is particularly alarming.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled the mpox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern. Formerly known as monkeypox, the disease has caused over 450 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo during an initial outbreak and has spread across central and eastern Africa. The rapid spread of a new, highly fatal variant known as Clade 1b, which emerged around September last year, has intensified concerns.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasised the need for a coordinated international response to curb the outbreak, which is transmitted through close contact such as sexual activity and skin-to-skin interactions. Mpox presents flu-like symptoms, skin lesions, and can be fatal, with a mortality rate of 4%.
Previous outbreaks were controlled by vaccines, but current vaccines are limited to high-risk groups. The new Clade 1 variant, which has a higher fatality rate of up to 10%, is particularly alarming. Since January, there have been over 13,700 cases and 450 deaths in the DR Congo, with cases also reported in Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya, and Rwanda.
Experts hope that declaring Mpox a public health emergency will accelerate research, funding, and international health measures. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also declared an emergency, urging immediate action to prevent further escalation.
