Declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern for Monkeypox by Dr. Tedros, WHO

During the conference held on August 14, 2024, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), declared Monkeypox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This decision followed a crucial meeting of various stakeholders and public health experts after the Africa CDC declared Monkeypox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) the previous day.

Dr. Tedros expressed his support for the Africa CDC, particularly in the field, where efforts are focused on case surveillance, training medical staff, and assisting countries in accessing necessary vaccines. To fund these initiatives, WHO has developed a regional response plan with a dedicated budget, though additional funding is needed to finance the entire response plan. Dr. Tedros reiterated WHO's commitment to working closely with each country to prevent transmission and save lives.

Source of image : Virtual press conference on the results of the meeting of the Emergency Committee (EC) concerning the resurgence of mpox 2024, WHO, August, 14th, 2024

Key Points from the Press conference

The primary objective of this meeting was to determine whether Monkeypox represents a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Committee members gathered to discuss this issue, and there was unanimous agreement: Monkeypox represents an extraordinary event due to the surge in cases in 2024 and the emergence of a new strain of Clade I, historically known to be more severe than Clade II.

The newly identified "Clade IB" is sexually transmitted and is now also circulating in East Africa. In South Africa, an alarming resurgence has been observed, with 24 cases reported this year and 3 deaths, particularly affecting people with HIV [see the article here]. The disease has spread to countries that had never experienced this epidemic before, such as Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda. In Burundi, the geographical spread is particularly concerning, and there is a real risk that the epidemic could extend to other regions of the world.

Understanding the Epidemic's Dynamics

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's Director Departement of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, emphasized the importance of understanding the dynamics of the epidemic. "Understanding this better will help us use the limited vaccines that we have," she stated. While vaccines are a valuable intervention, it is essential to recognize the crucial role of community work. "We have seen with the global outbreak that there are a lot of strategies that can be utilized," she added.

What's Next ?

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove also discussed the next steps, indicating that the emergency committee is currently drafting recommendations, which will include advice for affected member states. Regarding transmission, she emphasized the need to better understand the modes of transmission, particularly sexual transmission, which is concerning. "We need to have targeted interventions, stronger contact tracing, and enhanced surveillance," she insisted. She also highlighted the importance of adopting multiple approaches to understand how the virus is transmitted within households and communities.

The declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern for Monkeypox calls for a coordinated international response, increased investments, and strong collaboration to prevent the spread of the virus and protect vulnerable populations worldwide.