Global Response Intensifies as WHO Declares Mpox a Public Health Emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged pharmaceutical companies to significantly increase the production of mpox vaccines in response to the alarming spread of a more lethal strain recorded outside Africa. Following new cases in Sweden and Pakistan, the international community is on high alert, signaling an urgent need for preventative measures. France's Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, emphasized that the country would implement new travel recommendations for those visiting high-risk areas.
Mpox, which is transmitted to humans from animals and can also spread through close human contact, is characterized by symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and painful, boil-like lesions on the skin. The WHO's declaration of mpox as an international public health emergency underscores the gravity of the situation as the new Clade 1b strain spreads from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to other nations.
Margaret Harris, a spokesperson for the WHO, stressed the need for manufacturers to scale up vaccine production significantly, stating, "We need access to many more vaccines." The organization is calling on countries with surplus vaccine stockpiles to donate them to regions currently facing outbreaks, as individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV or malnourished children, are particularly at risk.
In a gesture of solidarity, the United States announced plans to donate 50,000 doses of mpox vaccine to the DRC, with France also committing to send vaccines to countries at risk. Meanwhile, Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic has indicated that it could produce up to 10 million doses of its mpox vaccine by 2025, pending contracts to initiate production.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that the overall risk in Europe remains low but warned that effective surveillance, laboratory testing, and contact tracing capabilities are crucial for identifying new cases. ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner urged readiness for potential imported cases due to the strong connections between Europe and Africa.
As the mpox virus continues to spread in the DRC, the country's government recently reported that the outbreak has claimed 548 lives this year alone. Nigeria has recorded 39 mpox cases without fatalities, while previously unaffected nations such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda are now facing their own outbreaks.
On Thursday, Sweden's Public Health Agency confirmed its first case of Clade 1b, linked to a recent visit to an area in Africa experiencing a significant outbreak of mpox. In a related development, Pakistan has reported a case involving a 34-year-old man who had returned from a Gulf country, although details about the strain affecting him remain unclear.
In response to the growing threat, China announced its intention to screen arrivals for mpox over the next six months. The customs administration stated that travelers from countries with recorded outbreaks should disclose any contacts with mpox cases or symptoms upon arrival. Additionally, goods and vehicles from areas with mpox cases will be subjected to sanitization protocols.
Mpox consists of two subtypes: the more virulent Clade 1, which is endemic to the Congo Basin, and Clade 2, typically found in West Africa. The worldwide outbreak that began in 2022 involved the Clade 2b subclade and has resulted in approximately 140 deaths out of around 90,000 cases, primarily impacting gay and bisexual men. In France, 107 cases of the milder variant of mpox were reported between January 1 and June 30 of this year.
The WHO's European regional office has expressed concerns about the connectivity of our world, as highlighted by the Swedish case. However, experts have advised caution against implementing travel restrictions or border closures, suggesting that such measures may not effectively prevent the spread of the virus.
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