WHO: Mpox Is Not the New COVID; Global Spread Can Be Controlled

The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized that Mpox, despite its increasing spread, is not comparable to COVID-19, and global efforts can successfully control the outbreak. Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, urged for decisive international action to manage and eliminate mpox, cautioning that the world’s response will be a crucial test for future public health strategies.

“We can and must tackle mpox together,” Kluge stated. “The way we respond now and in the years to come will be a critical test for Europe and the world,” he added, stressing the need for robust systems to control and eliminate the virus.

Mpox, a viral infection that leads to pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms, is typically mild but can be fatal. Global concern has grown around the clade 1b variant, which spreads more easily through routine close contact. This variant was recently confirmed in Sweden and linked to a growing outbreak in Africa.

Kluge pointed out that the focus on the more severe clade 1 strain provides an opportunity to strengthen public health measures against the less severe clade 2 variety. He noted that approximately 100 new cases of the clade 2 strain are being reported monthly in the European region.

The briefing comes shortly after the WHO declared mpox outbreaks in Africa a global emergency. On Monday, Congo’s Health Minister Roger Kamba announced that the country would receive its first vaccine doses from the US next week to combat the outbreak. Mpox cases have been confirmed in children and adults across more than a dozen African countries, with a new variant of the virus emerging. However, vaccine availability remains limited on the continent.

Congo, which accounts for the majority of mpox cases worldwide, urgently needs around 3 million vaccine doses. The United States and Japan have offered to donate vaccines, although details regarding the number of doses and delivery timeline from Japan remain unclear.

The WHO has reported over 17,000 mpox cases and more than 500 deaths globally this year, with over 96% of cases and deaths occurring in Congo. Children under 15 represent more than 70% of the cases and 85% of the deaths in the country, which has long struggled with disease outbreaks due to its vast geography and inadequate infrastructure.