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The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a global public health emergency after its rapid spread across multiple countries.

What WHO is saying: In a statement, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “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. The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern [Democratic Republic of the Congo], its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying. A public health emergency of international concern is the highest level of alarm under international health law.”

What’s going on?: The mpox outbreak in Africa, driven by a new “clade I strain,” has caused a rise in cases. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported a record number of infections since January 2023. The virus has also spread to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa, all of which have confirmed cases this year. According to officials, there has been a 160% increase in cases in the last year.

How does Mpox spread?: Mpox spreads mainly through direct contact with the skin lesions, bodily fluids, or respiratory droplets of an infected person or animal. The virus can also be passed on through contaminated materials like bedding or clothing. Although mpox typically spreads from animals to humans, the current outbreak in Africa, driven by the clade I strain, has shown an unusual and more efficient pattern of human-to-human transmission.

State Department comments: Yesterday, during a press briefing, a US State Department spokesman said, “We are tracking closely on the spread of mpox in Central Africa. We are pleased to see international leadership in this area. We are in close coordination with the governments of the DRC and other affected countries. We’re also in close engagement with the WHO, the Africa CDC, and other entities.”