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The World Health Organization has declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, after the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to neighboring countries.
New cases of the virus have since been identified outside the continent, including countries Siam, Philippines, Sweden and Pakistan.
Health officials are concerned because many of the new cases in Africa have been identified as a new and deadlier strain known as clade 1b. The new strain was also confirmed outside the continent, in Thailand.
CNBC breaks down what we know so far.
What is mpox?
Mpox is a viral infection transmitted through intimate contact, including sexual contact. It causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills and muscle aches, as well as pus-filled lesions. Although usually mild, they can be fatal.
There are broadly two types of mpox, known as clades, with the latest outbreak identified as clade 1. The current strain it seems to spread more easily and has a higher fatality rate compared to the 2022 strain known as clade 2.
It also appears to disproportionately affect young people, with most deaths occurring among children.
Why are cases increasing?
A new branch of clade 1, known as clade 1b, is said to be responsible for the recent increase in cases, according to to the WHO.
The WHO said clade 1b is spread from person to person, often through sexual contact. Although it was first detected in 2024, it is believed to have appeared in the DPRK around 2023.
“The clade Ib-associated outbreak in the PRC primarily affects adults and spreads rapidly, is largely, but not exclusively, maintained through sexually transmitted transmission and is amplified in networks associated with commercial sex workers,” said the health organization in a statement on August 19.
Where are the cases?
Alongside the DRC, clade 1b cases have been identified in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Siam.
Category 1 cases have been reported in the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo and Sweden.
Cases associated with the milder clade 2 have been reported in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Philippines and Pakistan.
What does the WHO statement mean?
The “public health emergency of international concern” status is the WHO’s highest designation and aims to accelerate international public health measures and cooperation to contain a disease.
“It is clear that a coordinated international response is necessary to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” he said. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus when the statement was made on August 14.
“The detection and rapid spread of a new strain of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the possibility of further spread within Africa and beyond is very concerning,” he added.
However, Dr Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, stressed last week that Mpox is “not the new Covid”.
In a statement published On Tuesday, Kluge dismissed comparisons between mpox and the coronavirus pandemic and said the risk to the general population is low.
“We can and must tackle mpox together — across regions and continents,” Kluge said.
What are the authorities doing?
There are vaccines to treat the virus, although access is a problem. WHO is now working with countries and vaccine manufacturers to increase access in affected countries.
The UN Health Organization said it has so far released $1.45 million in emergency funds and may need to release more in the coming days. It expects to need an immediate funding requirement of $15 million for its response plan.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has partnered with vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic, which it said will help deliver 2 million doses this year in addition to the existing ones, and 10 million by the end of 2025.
Bavarian Nordic said it also supplies vaccines to countries outside Africa and is seeking approval from the European Union’s medicines regulator to expand use of the mpox vaccine for teenagers.
