WHO Declares Mpox Outbreak a Global Health Emergency Amid Rapid Spread and Unknowns of New Strain

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning regarding the spread of a new mpox strain, CLA 1B, which has rapidly spread across Africa and reported cases outside the continent. This strain, first identified in April in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is potentially more lethal and can be transmitted through any physical contact or contaminated material. With over 18,000 cases and more than 600 deaths in Congo this year, the outbreak has been declared a public health emergency. Children, particularly in refugee camps, have been disproportionately affected, accounting for about 70% of the cases. Efforts to contain the disease are hampered by the slow arrival of vaccines and the lack of proper tracking due to insufficient funding and equipment. The WHO is in the process of deploying over 230,000 mpox vaccines to Congo, though the global response still requires significant scaling to meet the needs of the affected populations.

• The WHO warns of a new mpox strain, CLA 1B, spreading rapidly across Africa and beyond.
• First identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo, this strain can be transmitted through any physical contact or contaminated material.
• Over 18,000 cases and more than 600 deaths have been reported in Congo this year, prompting the declaration of a public health emergency.
• Children have been disproportionately affected, accounting for about 70% of the cases, with high transmission rates in refugee camps.
• The slow arrival of vaccines and inadequate tracking due to lack of funding and equipment challenge containment efforts.
• Over 230,000 mpox vaccines are ready to be shipped to Congo, but a global effort is needed to scale up the response effectively.
• The WHO has not yet formally approved the vaccine, even though it is already approved by Europe and the USFDA.
• The global strategy to combat the mpox outbreak includes funding for vaccines and calls for international cooperation and financial support.

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