The World Health Organization (WHO) has extended its declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for mpox, citing ongoing outbreaks and emerging new variants in Africa. The move comes despite the decline of cases over the past five weeks, which may be affected by reporting delays and reduced testing coverage.
Experts from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) warn that growing armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is exacerbating mpox transmission, particularly among new clade 1a variants carrying the APOBEC3 mutation. This mutation enhances transmissibility, making the strain more deadly.
The DRC has seen outbreaks expanding to other provinces and countries, with cases rising in several nations, including South Africa. In Uganda, treatment centers are overwhelmed, leading to a shift towards home-based care for patients with less severe cases.
However, there is a positive development: vaccination efforts have been launched in Kinshasa, the DRC’s capital, vaccinating 24,400 people in just four days. This initiative demonstrates high acceptance among communities and offers hope for controlling the spread of mpox.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/mpox/who-extends-mpox-emergency-more-transmissible-clade-1a-variant-identified-dr-congo