Mpox resurges — with a new, deadlier strain
October 11, 2024
Two years after containing the first global mpox outbreak, a more virulent strain has emerged, killing over 900 people, mostly African children. Missteps by the WHO, vaccine manufacturers, and African countries have led to another health emergency. The Democratic Republic of Congo, the outbreak's epicenter, initially refused donated vaccines lacking WHO endorsement. Blame is shared among stakeholders for delays in vaccine distribution and approval. The WHO and Bavarian Nordic, the vaccine manufacturer, dispute the timeline of the approval process. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges in global health coordination and the legacy of mistrust between Africa and the West.
Two years after successfully containing the first global mpox outbreak, the world faces a new, more virulent strain that has already claimed over 900 lives, predominantly African children. This resurgence highlights significant coordination failures among global health actors and underscores the persistent challenges in addressing health emergencies.
The United States initially responded to the first outbreak with a targeted vaccination campaign using the Jynneos vaccine. In 2023, it offered some doses to African countries where mpox is endemic. However, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicenter of this year's outbreak, initially refused donated vaccines that lacked World Health Organization (WHO) endorsement, a decision rooted in a legacy of mistrust between Africa and the West.
The delay in vaccine distribution to affected regions has been attributed to a series of missteps by the WHO, vaccine manufacturers, and African countries. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's incident manager for the global mpox response, acknowledged that there is "plenty of blame to go around" regarding the handling of the situation.
A significant point of contention lies in the timeline of the vaccine approval process. Paul Chaplin, CEO of Bavarian Nordic, the Danish manufacturer of Jynneos, claims the company requested WHO approval in March 2023. However, the WHO's Van Kerkhove states that they didn't receive all necessary information from Bavarian Nordic until late August. This discrepancy has led to finger-pointing between the two organizations, further complicating the response to the outbreak.
The situation is exacerbated by the potential arrival of the new strain in the U.S. at any time, according to federal government officials. This underscores the global nature of the threat and the urgent need for improved international coordination in health emergencies.
This new mpox outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in global health coordination, the importance of building trust between international organizations and developing countries, and the critical need for rapid, efficient responses to emerging health threats.