Mpox is killing again. It didn’t have to be this way.
October 10, 2024
Mpox has resurged, causing over 900 deaths, mostly among African children. A new variant threatens global spread, with U.S. authorities on alert. The 2022 outbreak, contained in the U.S. through targeted vaccination, highlighted global inequities as Africa received no vaccines. Blame is shared among stakeholders, including the WHO and vaccine manufacturers, for delays in vaccine distribution to Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of the current outbreak, initially refused donated vaccines. This situation underscores the need for global cooperation in pandemic preparedness and addressing the legacy of mistrust between Africa and the West.
The resurgence of mpox has become a pressing global health concern, with over 900 deaths reported this year, primarily affecting African children. A new variant, emerging from the endemic regions in Africa, threatens to spread globally, putting U.S. authorities on high alert.
This situation starkly contrasts with the 2022 outbreak, which the U.S. successfully contained through a targeted vaccination campaign for high-risk groups. However, the failure to extend this vaccination effort to Africa, where the disease is endemic in some countries, has proven costly. Public health officials argue that this oversight facilitated the emergence of the new variant, underscoring the critical importance of global cooperation in pandemic preparedness.
The current outbreak has exposed multiple layers of complexity in the global health response:
1. Vaccine Distribution: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicenter of this year's outbreak, initially refused donated vaccines, highlighting issues of trust and communication.
2. Institutional Responsibility: The World Health Organization (WHO) and vaccine manufacturers have engaged in a blame game over delays in reassuring developing countries about the safety and efficacy of the mpox vaccine.
3. Historical Mistrust: The situation reflects a legacy of distrust between Africa and the West, which the WHO, as a UN agency, could have done more to address.
4. Scale of the Problem: Over a dozen African countries have reported more than 38,000 suspected mpox cases since the beginning of the year, with the DRC being the most affected.
5. Global Impact: The 2022 outbreak reached over 100 countries and infected at least 100,000 people, demonstrating the potential for rapid global spread.
The resurgence of mpox serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of global health and the need for equitable distribution of medical resources. It highlights the importance of addressing not just the medical aspects of disease outbreaks, but also the complex socio-political factors that influence their spread and containment.