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The World Health Organization has declared MPOX a global public health emergency for the second time in two years after it spread to neighboring countries in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Since then, new cases of the virus have been identified outside the continent, including in Thailand, the Philippines, Sweden and Pakistan.
Health officials are concerned because many of the new cases in Africa have been identified as a new and deadly strain, known as clade 1b. The new strain has also been confirmed outside the continent in Thailand.
CNBC breaks down what we know so far.
What is mpox?
Mpox is a viral infection. which is spread by close contact, including sexual contact. It causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills and muscle aches, as well as pus-filled sores. While usually mild, it can be fatal.
There are two broad types of MPox, known as clades, with the most recent outbreak identified as clade 1. The current strain appears to spread more easily and has a higher mortality rate than clade 2 in 2022.
It seems to disproportionately affect young people, with most deaths occurring in children.
Why are cases increasing?
According to the WHO, a new branch of clade 1, called clade 1b, is responsible for the recent increase in cases.
Clade 1b is spread from person to person, often through sexual contact, the WHO said. While first identified in 2024, it is believed to have emerged in the DRC around 2023.
“Clade IB-associated outbreaks in the DRC mainly affect adults and are spreading rapidly, sustained largely, but not exclusively, through sexually transmitted transmission and through commercial sex and sex. spread in networks connected to workers,” the health organization said in a Statement on August 19
Where are the cases?
As well as the DRC, cases of clade 1b have been identified in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Thailand.
Clade 1 cases have been reported in Central African Republic, Republic of Congo and Sweden.
Cases associated with mild clade 2 have been reported in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, the Philippines, and Pakistan.
What does the WHO declaration mean?
The status of “public health emergency of international concern” is the highest WHO designation and is intended to accelerate international public health actions and cooperation to control the disease.
“It is clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives.” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus when the announcement was made on August 14.
“The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of MPOX in eastern DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported MPOX, and within and outside of Africa is a major challenge,” he added. The possibility of an outbreak is very worrisome.”
However, WHO regional director for Europe, Dr. Hans Kluge, stressed last week that Mpox “is not the new Covid.”
In a statement published on Tuesday, Kluge rejected comparisons between MPOX and the coronavirus pandemic and said the risk to the general population was low.
“We can, and must, tackle mpox together – across regions and continents,” Kluge said.
What are the authorities doing?
Vaccines exist to treat the virus, although access is a problem. WHO is now working with countries and vaccine manufacturers to increase access to affected countries.
The UN health agency said it has released $1.45 million in emergency funds so far and may need to release more in the coming days. He expects his response plan will require an initial $15 million in immediate funding.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has partnered with vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic, which it says will help deliver 2 million doses this year in addition to the current one, and 2 million by 2025. 10 million by the end.
Bavarian Nordic said it is also supplying the vaccine to countries outside Africa, and that it is seeking approval from the EU's drug regulator to expand the use of its mpox vaccine for teenagers.