WHO to convene emergency meeting on mpox on Nov. 22
November 11, 2024
The World Health Organization (WHO) will soon review whether mpox remains a global health crisis. This comes after the disease's classification as a public health emergency in August due to a highly contagious variant, clade Ib, spreading in Africa. So far, Africa has reported nearly 47,000 suspected or confirmed cases and over 1,000 fatalities this year, with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Uganda hit hardest. Mpox typically spreads through close contact, causing flu-like symptoms and lesions. Recently, vaccines were allocated to the nine most affected African countries, signaling hope for containment and ongoing vigilance.
Next week, the World Health Organization (WHO) will convene to assess whether mpox continues to constitute a global health emergency. This follows the designation in August, when a highly transmissible mpox variant, clade Ib, was confirmed as spreading in several African countries. Mpox infections in Africa have since surged, with nearly 47,000 confirmed and suspected cases and over 1,000 fatalities recorded in 2024. According to the WHO, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Uganda are currently facing the most severe impacts.
Mpox, which transmits primarily through close contact, is often mild but can be fatal in rare cases. Symptoms generally include flu-like signs and skin lesions. This spread underscores the ongoing need for intervention, especially as the disease remains active across much of the continent. The recent delivery of initial vaccine doses to nine hard-hit African nations marks a crucial step forward, though achieving widespread immunity remains challenging.
This WHO review is timely, given the recent vaccination efforts and the need to assess global preparedness for potential further outbreaks. The WHO’s Emergency Committee will examine the scale and effectiveness of current response measures to determine if mpox still warrants an international health crisis classification. Whether the crisis status remains or is lifted, health officials emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring, particularly as new variants could further complicate efforts to contain the disease.
Africa’s mpox situation calls for strengthened vaccination, testing, and public health support across the region to prevent additional spread. As the international community watches closely, decisive action on mpox can pave the way for more resilient responses to similar global health threats in the future.