The World Health Organization (WHO) has rung the alarm bells, declaring mpox to be a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). And let’s face it, when the WHO speaks, we had better listen!
In a media briefing, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared, “Today, the Emergency Committee met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice.” Yikes! If Dr. Tedros is concerned, so should we be.
Over in the good ol’ U.S.A., we’ve seen 1,634 confirmed cases of mpox this year, according to the CDC. That’s more than double the national cases from last year but still less frightening than the 2022 outbreak numbers. A small win, perhaps?
Moving onto Africa, where things are more intense, mpox has always been a challenge in parts of Central and Western Africa. But the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is currently at the epicenter, with more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths this year alone. Talk about a hotspot!
What’s causing this ruckus, you ask? Well, let’s break down the science: there are two types of mpox (clade I and clade II), basically different strains if you will. Clade I has always been the quieter, keep-to-itself type, only causing smaller, more localized outbreaks. But this is 2024, and we now have a new troublemaker—clade Ib. This variant seems keener on spreading through sexual contact and is causing quite a stir in the DRC.
The concern grew when clade Ib was spotted in other African nations—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—even where mpox had never been reported before. This led Dr. Tedros to convene the WHO’s emergency committee, because, you know, it’s better safe than sorry.
“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 the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” said Tedros during the briefing. If this doesn’t make you a bit jittery, I don’t know what will.
While Africa is grappling with an alarming situation, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also stepped in, declaring mpox a public health emergency of continental security—a first for Africa CDC since it was established in 2017. Clearly, no one is taking any chances.
Africa CDC reported 934 new lab-confirmed mpox cases and four deaths in June from 26 different countries, which shows that this challenge is far from over. Even though the situation in the U.S. seems quieter, the CDC notes there are no clade I mpox cases outside of Central and Eastern Africa, which means the American public has a much lower risk level at this time. So, maybe breathe a small sigh of relief, but stay vigilant!
On the vaccine front, the hero of the day is the JYNNEOS vaccine. This two-dose gem is approved by the FDA for preventing both smallpox and mpox. Data from Africa shows it’s pretty effective, with two doses providing about 85% protection. So, if you’re eligible, don’t hesitate to get your jab!
And that’s a wrap, folks! Stay informed, stay safe, and keep your hand sanitizer close.
