The World Health Organization has declared mpox, an illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a worldwide health emergency due to a rise in cases reported in Africa, according to announcements made Wednesday.

This announcement follows outbreaks of mpox in 13 African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Central African Republic.

This is the second time within two years that the WHO has declared an emergency regarding the mpox virus. Newer variants of the virus, referred to as clade I and clade Ib, are reportedly spreading more efficiently through typical close interactions, including sexual activity, as noted by Reuters.

In 2024, more than 17,000 mpox cases have been recorded across Africa, as per the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. This represents a notable rise from the 14,957 cases documented in 2023 and 7,146 cases in 2022.

Reportedly, the Africa CDC has noted 500 fatalities and has requested international medical assistance.

Mpox cases rise in African countries

The situation has been classified as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), which is the highest alert level according to international health regulations, according to the WHO.

The potential for further outbreaks in Africa is concerning, remarked Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of WHO.

Understanding mpox

<pMpox, previously termed monkeypox, originates from the monkeypox virus, as indicated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus is similar to the smallpox virus, as per the CDC’s statements. It is not related to chickenpox.

This disease can be transmitted from animals to humans, as it is zoonotic. However, there have been increasing reports of human-to-human transmission since 2016, as highlighted by Politico.

Is mpox present in the United States?

The global mpox outbreak that occurred in 2022 was caused by a different strain, clade II, which is still present in the United States and other regions, according to Reuters.

The CDC said that no cases of clade I have been documented outside of central or eastern Africa, stating that the risk of spread in the U.S. remains “very low” at this moment.

How mpox spreads so efficiently

Humans typically contract mpox from infected animals such as rodents and primates, through bites, airborne transmission, or contact with contaminated fluids.

Human-to-human spread usually occurs through close interactions involving respiratory droplets, infectious skin lesions, or objects that have been recently contaminated, according to the WHO.

Common signs of mpox

The illness lasts between two to four weeks. Within one to three days post-infection, patients commonly develop a rash on the face that eventually extends to other body areas, as reported by the CDC. These fluid-filled sores evolve through various stages before they dry up and fall off.

The incubation period, representing the time from infection to the onset of symptoms, typically spans 6 to 13 days, but can vary from 5 to 21 days.

Common symptoms of mpox include:

While mpox symptoms resemble those of smallpox, they are generally milder, according to the WHO. Infected individuals often present with rashes and other symptoms. The rashes transition through different phases, culminating in scabs before complete healing, as mentioned by the CDC.

According to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, around 10 million vaccine doses are necessary to address the outbreaks in Africa.

Tedros announced that WHO has allocated $1.5 million from its contingency funds and plans to provide additional resources shortly. The agency’s response will need an initial $15 million, and WHO intends to seek donations for further funding.