South African Department of Health and WHO reports

WHO Considers Emergency as Clade 1b Mpox Strain Kills 500 in DRC, Spreads in Africa

Aug 7, 2024, 02:49 PM

A new, more virulent strain of the mpox virus, clade 1b, has emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and spread to multiple African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. The outbreak has resulted in nearly 500 deaths in the DRC alone since January. The World Health Organization (WHO) is considering declaring the situation a public health emergency of international concern. The case fatality ratio for this strain is reported to be 3.6% in the DRC, significantly higher than previous strains. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has announced plans to convene an emergency committee under the International Health Regulations to assess the risk and advise on the international response. The outbreak has raised concerns about further spread due to human-to-human transmission and the movement of people along newly built roads connecting remote areas to urban centers. South Africa has reported 22 cases, and the number of mpox cases in Africa has increased by more than 160% compared to last year. Children are particularly affected, and there is potential for global spread.