The World Health Organization has declared Mpox, an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a global health emergency following a surge in cases in Africa, officials said on Wednesday.
The declaration follows MPOX outbreaks in 13 African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Central African Republic and others.
It is the second time in two years that the WHO has declared a state of emergency over the Mpox virus. New forms of the virus, known as clade I and clade Ib, appear to spread more easily through everyday close contact, including sexual contact, Reuters reported.
According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 17,000 cases were reported across Africa in 2024, a significant increase from the 14,957 cases in 2023 and the 7,146 cases in 2022.
The Africa CDC reported 500 deaths and requested international medical assistance.
Mpox infections are increasing rapidly in African countries
The alert level known as a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC) is the highest under international health law, explains the WHO.
The potential for further spread in Africa is worrying, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO.
Total number of Mpox cases worldwide since 2022
What is mpox?
Mpox, formerly called monkeypox, is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus is similar to the virus that causes smallpox, the CDC says. It is not related to chickenpox.
The disease is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted from vertebrates to humans, but since 2016, more human-to-human transmissions have been reported, according to Politico.
Is Mpox available in the USA?
The 2022 global Mpox outbreak was caused by a different Mpox strain, clade II, that is still present in the United States and elsewhere, Reuters said.
No Group I cases have been reported outside of Central and East Africa, the CDC said in an alert last week. It said the spread in the United States is currently “very low risk.”
How Mpox spreads so easily
Mpox is commonly transmitted from rodents and primates to humans through bites, aerosol transmission, or contact with infected fluids.
According to the WHO, transmission from person to person usually occurs through close contact with respiratory secretions, inflamed skin lesions or recently contaminated objects.
Common symptoms of MPOX
Mpox illness lasts two to four weeks. Within one to three days of infection, the patient develops a facial rash that spreads to other parts of the body, according to the CDC. The fluid-filled lesions go through a series of stages before drying out and falling off.
The incubation period, i.e. the time between infection and the onset of symptoms, is usually 6 to 13 days, but can also be 5 to 21 days.
Symptoms of MPOX include:
Symptoms of Mpox are similar to those of smallpox but are less severe, the WHO says. People infected with Mpox often get rashes and other symptoms. Rashes go through several stages, including scabs, before they heal, the CDC says.
According to the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, about 10 million doses of vaccine are needed for the outbreaks in Africa.
Tedros said the WHO has released $1.5 million in emergency funding and plans to release more in the coming days. The WHO’s response would initially require $15 million, and the agency plans to ask donors for funds.
Contributors: Eduardo Cuevas
Source: Reporting and research by USA TODAY Network; Reuters; World Health Organization; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
