Mpox Outbreak: WHO Maintains Highest Alert, New Strain Ib in Angola, US

Nov 22, 2024, 05:55 PM

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the mpox outbreak continues to be a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). This decision was made following the advice of the WHO's Emergency Committee, which met to assess the ongoing situation. The outbreak has seen a significant rise in cases and geographic spread, with Burundi being the second most affected country in Africa, reporting 2,003 confirmed cases as of November 17. The WHO, along with the Africa CDC, has noted that while new cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) appear to be plateauing since vaccines were rolled out last month, the overall situation remains critical. The emergence of a new strain, Ib, has been reported in Angola and the United States, adding to the complexity of the outbreak. The WHO's decision to maintain the highest level of alert is based on the increasing number of cases and the continuing spread of the disease across different regions.