ISTANBUL With global public health concerns raised to the highest level, the spread of the mpox virus has been making headlines as it has now been confirmed to be present on multiple continents. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency on Wednesday over an ongoing outbreak of a contagious new mpox variant, known as clade 1b, with the UN body’s top official, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointing to “international concern” regarding its spread. A day after the decision, Sweden confirmed the first case outside Africa of this strain, which studies have shown to be more contagious and potentially cause more severe symptoms.
Cases of the disease in 2024 have surpassed the number of infections last year. Over 15,600 mpox cases have been reported since the beginning of this year, while at least 500 people have died of the disease. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounts for more than 90% of reported infections, with over a dozen African nations also reporting cases.
Africa’s top health body, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, has responded by declaring an emergency on the continent. What is mpox? Mpox is a viral disease, formerly called monkeypox before the WHO changed its name in 2022 over complaints that it was racist and stigmatizing. The virus is closely associated with smallpox and is divided into two broad yet distinct genetic groups called clades.
Clade 1 is more widespread in Central Africa, while clade 2 is prev.