{"id":271631,"date":"2024-08-19T12:00:20","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T11:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=271631"},"modified":"2024-08-17T05:47:32","modified_gmt":"2024-08-17T04:47:32","slug":"who-declares-mpox-virus-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2024\/08\/who-declares-mpox-virus-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern\/","title":{"rendered":"WHO Declares Mpox Virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_271632\" style=\"width: 460px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/mpox-virus-epidemic-africa-who-un.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271632\" class=\"wp-image-271632\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/mpox-virus-epidemic-africa-who-un-1024x463.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/mpox-virus-epidemic-africa-who-un-1024x463.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/mpox-virus-epidemic-africa-who-un-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/mpox-virus-epidemic-africa-who-un-768x348.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/mpox-virus-epidemic-africa-who-un.jpg 1171w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-271632\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mpox &#8211; formerly monkeypox &#8211; is a rare but dangerous infection similar to the now eradicated smallpox virus.<br \/>\u00a9 CDC\/Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regnery<\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p>14 Aug 2024 &#8211; <em><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW71289039 BCX8 NormalTextRun\" lang=\"EN-US\">The chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the rise in mpox cases <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WHO\/status\/1823772925582844287\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW71289039 BCX8 NormalTextRun\" lang=\"EN-US\">constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)<\/span><\/a><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW71289039 BCX8 NormalTextRun\" lang=\"EN-US\">, following advice from members at today\u2019s International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee meeting.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"block-views-block-content-fields-block-body\" class=\"views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-fields-block-body\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"view view-content-fields view-id-content_fields view-display-id-block_body js-view-dom-id-7d50c86366647b7a7f357e846f07529161bfe9ad3f03411a7b47345e656a694d\">\n<div class=\"view-content\">\n<div class=\"views-row\">\n<div class=\"views-field views-field-field-news-story\">\n<div class=\"field-content\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--one-column-text paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"_none\">\n<div class=\"w-100\">\n<div class=\"layout row layout-builder__layout\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<div class=\"_none block block-layout-builder block-field-block-paragraph-one-column-text-field-text-column\">\n<div class=\"block-content block__content\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text-column field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<div>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">A PHEIC is the highest level of alarm under international health law.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Today, the Emergency Committee on <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/mpox?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#mpox<\/a> met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice.<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WHO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >@WHO<\/a> is on the ground, working with the affected countries, and others at risk, through our\u2026<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrTedros\/status\/1823780524068102483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >August 14, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.who.int\/en\/\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WHO<\/a> Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called for the meeting last Wednesday to seek advice on whether the mpox \u2013 previously monkeypox \u2013 outbreaks are cause for international concern.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">On Tuesday, the Africa\u00a0Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared the situation a public health emergency.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">\u201cThe Emergency Committee\u2019s advice to me, and that of the [Africa CDC], which yesterday declared a public health emergency of regional security, are aligned,\u201d Tedros <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WHO\/status\/1823773240998678951\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a> in a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.<\/p>\n<h2>Clades and cases<\/h2>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">Mpox cases have been spreading throughout many countries in Africa, <a href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/08\/1152931\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)<\/a> and neighbouring Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. The potential for further spread in Africa is worrying, said the WHO chief.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">\u201cIn addition to other outbreaks of other clades of mpox in other parts of Africa, it\u2019s clear that <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WHO\/status\/1823773116629156123\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks<\/a> and save lives,\u201d Tedros said.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">This year already saw over 14,000 reported cases of the virus with 524 deaths, a significant increase in reported cases from 2023.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">Tedros previously mentioned that the mpox outbreaks have occurred due to different viruses called clades.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/director-general\/speeches\/detail\/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-ihr-emergency-committee-meeting-regarding-the-upsurge-of-mpox-2024---14-august-2024\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">At Wednesday\u2019s meeting<\/a>, he said there was transmission of the so-called clade 1b virus in the DRC last year which was caused \u201cmainly through sexual networks\u201d. This clade is reportedly deadlier and more easily transmitted from person to person.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">Clade 1 has been circulating in the DRC for years while clade 2 was responsible for the global outbreak of 2022 which was declared an international public health emergency.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">Tedros said in the past month that around 90 cases of successor clade 1b were reported in countries neighbouring the DRC which had not reported mpox cases before.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">\u201cStopping these outbreaks will require a tailored and comprehensive response, with communities at the centre, as always,\u201d Tedros said.<\/p>\n<h2>Addressing outbreak drivers<\/h2>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">The WHO chief said the UN agency is working with governments of the affected countries, the Africa CDC and other partners to \u201cunderstand and address the drivers of these outbreaks\u201d.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">\u201cFor example, we are providing machines to analyse blood samples and confirm cases of mpo [and] supporting laboratories to sequence viral samples,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">He further mentioned \u201csupporting case investigation and contact tracing\u201d on the ground, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WHO\/status\/1823773383261098414\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">training for health care workers and much more<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>WHO regional response<\/h2>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">\u201cWHO has developed a regional response plan, requiring an initial $15 million to support surveillance, preparedness and response activities,\u201d Tedros said.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">This response was funded by $1.45 million from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">More funds will be released in the coming days and the WHO chief is also appealing for more donor support.<\/p>\n<h2>Emergency vaccines<\/h2>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">Currently, two WHO-recommended and approved vaccines are being used to combat the mpox virus outbreak.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">Under an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/09-08-2024-who-invites-mpox-vaccine-manufacturers-to-submit-dossiers-for-emergency-evaluations\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Emergency Use Listing (EUL) call last week<\/a>, Tedros also invited manufacturers of mpox vaccines to express interest in producing them to \u201caccelerate vaccine access for lower-income countries which have not yet issued their own national regulatory approval\u201d.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">EUL will allow partners like the UN Children\u2019s Fund (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UNICEF<\/a>) to gather vaccines for distribution.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"EN-US\">\u00a0\u201cWe are working with all partners to facilitate equitable access to diagnostics, vaccines, supplies for clinical care and other tools,&#8221; Tedros said.<\/p>\n<h2>WHO recommendations<\/h2>\n<p>Last August, the WHO chief released standing recommendations under the IHR to monitor mpox cases.<\/p>\n<p>These recommendations were set to expire in five days, on 20 August 2024, but will be extended for another year to \u201csupport countries to respond to the chronic risk of mpox&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the recommendations include enhancing community protection through adapting public health and social measures to local contexts, providing guidance and resources for delivering clinical mpox care and more.<\/p>\n<p>Tedros said WHO is \u201ccommitted in the days and weeks ahead to coordinate the global response, working closely with each of the affected countries and leveraging our on-the-ground presence t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WHO\/status\/1823773646889865421\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">o prevent transmission, treat those infected and save lives<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mpox 5 Facts | United Nations\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kINq2xSYGAo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/08\/1153176\" >Go to Original &#8211; news.un.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>14 Aug 2024 &#8211; The chief of the World Health Organization declared that the rise in mpox cases constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, following advice from members at today\u2019s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee meeting.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":271632,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[237,1698,3355,1102,124,1836,75],"class_list":["post-271631","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","tag-africa","tag-epidemics","tag-mpox","tag-public-health","tag-united-nations","tag-who","tag-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271631","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271631"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271631\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271633,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271631\/revisions\/271633"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271631"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271631"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271631"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}