ABVC Disease Alert Issue No. 9 | Mpox in Democratic Republic of the Congo

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the rise and spread of mpox cases a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the second time, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the heart of this crisis. The declaration follows the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s unprecedented move to name the mpox outbreaks a public health emergency of continental security on August 13, 2024. This new mpox PHEIC declaration, the 8th since 2009, was prompted by the alarming increase in mpox cases in the DRC and their spread to at least 12 other African countries. The DRC has become the epicenter of the outbreak, primarily driven by the newly emerged Clade Ib. This unique situation has created a multifaceted epidemiological landscape that challenges traditional understanding and control measures.