The viral disease mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is once again a worldwide threat. The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on Wednesday afternoon, citing a resurgence of cases across Africa and the emergence of a new, more deadly variant of the virus.
MPOX has long been considered a zoonotic disease, primarily transmitted from animals (probably rodents rather than monkeys) to humans. But that changed in early 2022, when the virus began causing large-scale human-to-human transmission outside Africa. These outbreaks span the globe, with more than 90,000 cases recorded in more than 100 countries.
The virus can be spread through any form of direct contact. But during these large outbreaks, it is primarily transmitted sexually among gay and bisexual men. Thankfully, the circulating strain belongs to a less lethal lineage, and the 2022 epidemic killed only about 150 people.
Vaccinations and awareness campaigns in high-risk communities have helped reduce MPOX cases since 2022, but experts warn the virus could continue to cause outbreaks or mutate further and become more dangerous — a possibility that is now a reality .
According to the Associated Press, there have been more than 14,000 reported cases linked to mpox this year, including 524 deaths. The cases and deaths occurred in 13 countries, but most were concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A new, more deadly MPOX variant appears to be driving these outbreaks, with mortality rates hovering around 3 to 4 percent.
Last week, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a public emergency over the outbreak. Although most of the danger so far has been limited to Africa, the WHO’s statement suggests that other parts of the world are not necessarily immune to threats from MPOX.
“The emergence of a new branch of MPOX, its rapid spread in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and cases reported in several neighboring countries are very concerning. In addition to the outbreak of other MPOX branches in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in Africa, there is a clear need for a coordinated approach international response to stop these outbreaks and save lives.
