WHO declares Monkeypox as global health emergency
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 17 2024: The World Health Organisation (WHO), on August 14, declared the ongoing upsurge of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other African countries as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

This declaration was announced by WHO director-general Dr Tedros Ad-hanom Ghebreyesus underscoring the urgent need for a coordinated global response to curb the spread of the virus.

According to a press release issued by WHO, the declaration follows the advice of an emergency committee convened under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) .

The committee, comprising independent experts, reviewed data presented by WHO and representatives from affected countries.

After careful deliberation, the committee concluded that the current situation meets the criteria for a PHEIC, given the potential for the virus to spread further across Africa and potentially beyond.

Dr Tedros expressed deep concern about the emergence of a new clade of the mpox virus, which has been rapidly spreading in eastern DRC and neighbouring countries.

WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti highlighted the ongoing efforts in collaboration with communities and governments to curb the spread of mpox.

The new strain, clade lb, which appears to be spreading mainly through sexual networks, has raised particular concern.

In the past month alone, over 100 laboratory-confirmed cases of clade lb have been reported in four countries neighbouring the DRC: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

These countries had not previously reported cases of mpox.

Experts believe the actual number of cases may be higher, as many clinically compatible cases have not yet been tested.

Meanwhile, in view of the WHO declaring Monkeypox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHE-IC), a detailed review of the Monkeypox situation and the preparedness was taken by the union minister of health & family welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda in a meeting with the senior officials of the Ministry, on Saturday.

There are no reported cases of Monkeypox in India as of date.

During the meeting, it was decided to implement precautionary measures to address the potential spread of monkeypox.

These measures include sensitising health units at all airports, seaports, and ground crossings, preparing 32 testing laboratories, and equipping health facilities to detect, isolate, and manage any potential cases.

The meeting also highlighted that monkeypox infections are typically self-limiting, lasting between 2 to 4 weeks, with most patients recovering with supportive care.

The virus primarily spreads through prolonged close contact, often via the sexual route, direct contact with body fluids or lesions, or contaminated clothing and linens of an infected individual.

Mpox, caused by an Orthopoxvirus, was first detected in humans in 1970 in the DRC and is considered endemic to central and west African countries.

The disease has seen a steady increase in reported cases over the past decade, with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths reported so far this year, exceeding last year's total.

The virus garnered global attention in 2022 when a multi-country outbreak was declared a PHEIC after the virus spread rapidly via sexual contact across countries where it had not previously been seen.

That PHEIC was declared over in May 2023 after a sustained decline in global cases.

The current resurgence of mpox in Africa, particularly the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain, has prompted renewed urgency.

Committee chair professor Dimie Ogoina stressed the global implications of the outbreak, saying, "The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, is an emergency, not only for Africa, but for the entire globe.

Mpox, originating in Africa, was neglected there, and later caused a global outbreak in 2022.It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself" .

In response to the crisis, WHO has initiated processes to expedite access to vaccines, particularly in lower-income countries that have not yet approved them.

The two vaccines currently in use are recommended by WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation and have been approved by national regulatory authorities in countries like Nigeria and the DRC.

Last week, Dr Tedros triggered the process for Emergency Use Listing for mpox vaccines, which will accelerate vaccine access and enable organizations like Gavi and UNICEF to procure vaccines for distribution.

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