The World Health Organization (WHO) has reissued a global public health emergency alert for mpox, formerly monkeypox, following a severe outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has spread to neighboring African countries.
This “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC) is the highest level of alert and will expedite international efforts for research and funding. This year, over 17,000 suspected cases and 517 deaths have been reported in Africa, a 160% increase from last year, with new, more transmissible variant clade Ib now spreading.
While mpox cases from clade II, which caused a global outbreak in 2022, have declined, the emergence of clade I in Africa is concerning. The U.S. CDC has issued travel advisories and is donating 50,000 doses of mpox vaccine to the DRC. The CDC also recommends vaccination for higher-risk individuals and continues to monitor the situation closely.
Mpox symptoms include a rash, fever, and flu-like symptoms, with blisters that fill with fluid. The available vaccine is effective against both viral clades.
