TRANSCRIPT:
For the second time in two years, the World Health Organisation has declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern.
Following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a new variant, known as clade I-b, has been identified spreading to neighbouring countries including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
Formerly known as Monkeypox, the viral infection can spread through close contact with infected animals, humans with mpox, and with contaminated surfaces.
The World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says a coordinated international response is required to save lives.
“Last week, I announced that I was convening an emergency committee under the International Health Regulations to evaluate the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in Africa. 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."
Earlier in the week, Africa's top public health body declared a health emergency for the continent with the alarming spread of the viral infection seeing more than 17,000 suspected cases and more than 500 deaths this year alone.
The deaths have mostly occurred in children in the D-R-C.
Usually considered a mild infection, mpox can be fatal and is characterised by flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.
Previously declared a global public health emergency in 2022, the new outbreak is being considered a more serious situation than last time.
Clinical Infectious Diseases Epidemiologist Salim Abdool Karim says given the limitations on surveillance of the outbreak, it may be worse than currently known.
"There are far more cases now than there were when the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern in 2022. In fact, if you look at the period, the most recent period, the number of cases in Africa is more than triple what it was when it was declared in 2022. So, it's very clear that we are now dealing with a different situation, a situation where the cases are far more than we've seen in the past year and in the past two years. So, we have a high burden of cases."
A total of thirteen countries, including Australia, currently have reported cases.
In Australia, cases of mpox have been reported across various states, with the largest outbreaks in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
The mpox variant identified in Australia is called clade 2b, which experts say has an extremely low mortality rate but can cause a lot of pain.
According to government sources, Victoria has recorded 108 cases in 2024, New South Wales has recorded 93 cases, and Queensland has recorded 22.
The official advice from health departments remains to be that the best protection against mpox is the two-dose mpox vaccine, which is free for eligible groups of people in Australia.
While most cases of mpox are being reported in Africa, the Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control Jean Kaseya says it's not just an African issue.
"Mpox is a global threat, a menace that knows no boundaries, no race, no creed. It is a virus that exploits our vulnerabilities, playing off our weakest points. And it is in this moment of vulnerability that we must find our greatest strength and demonstrate that we're all learning from the COVID lesson and applying solidarity."
During the 2022 emergency declaration, which lasted 10 months and saw the spread of a different mpox variant, vaccines and behavioural change saw a reduction in the spread of the infection.
The variant identified during that outbreak was primarily spread among men who have sex with men and killed around 200 people.
The new variant of mpox is believed to spread more easily as symptoms are often milder and harder to detect early.
The declaration of a global public health emergency is the W-H-O's highest level of alert and often accelerates research and funding directed at containing the outbreak.
Chair of the W-H-O's mpox emergency committee, Dimie Ogoina says the upsurge in cases is an extraordinary event.
“Evidently, the fact that the new clade that is sexually transmissible has spread to other African countries. And before now, these African countries have never reported a single case of mpox, including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, are reporting new cases of mpox. And the outbreak in Burundi, for instance, is very concerning because it updates geographical dispersion of a number of cases reported there. So we believe that it's already a risk for international spread. And of course, there is also the chance that it could spread beyond Africa to other regions of the world."
Experts say the surge in cases throughout Africa highlights the need for more equitable access to vaccines on the continent.
The W-H-O has released $1.5 million in contingency funds and plans to release more in the coming days.
Dr Ghebreyesus says the response plan will require an initial $15 million, with the organisation planning to appeal to donors for funding.
“A public health emergency of international concern is the highest level of alarm under international health law. The emergency committee's advice to me, and that of the African CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which yesterday declared a public health emergency of regional security, are aligned. W.H.O. is on the ground working with the affected countries and others at risk through our country and regional offices, as well as with partners including the Africa CDC, NGOs, civil society and more.”
