The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared amphibians a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighbouring countries.
Ampox can be spread through close contact. It is usually mild, but in rare cases it can be fatal. It causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled sores on the body.
Designating a disease outbreak as a “public health emergency of international concern,” or PHEIC — the WHO’s highest level of alert — can accelerate research, funding, and international public health measures and collaboration to contain the disease.
The outbreak in Congo began with the spread of an endemic strain, known as clade I. But a new variant, clade Ib, appears to spread more easily through regular close contact, including sexual contact. It has spread from Congo to neighbouring countries including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, prompting the WHO to take action.
“It is clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” said World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Earlier this week, Africa’s top public health body declared an Mpox emergency for the continent, warning that the viral infection was spreading at an alarming rate.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported that so far this year, there have been more than 17,000 suspected ampox cases on the African continent and 517 deaths, a 160% increase compared to the same period last year. In total, cases have been reported in 13 countries.
A growing outbreak of ampox in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its neighbouring countries has prompted Africa’s top public health body to declare a “public health emergency of continental concern” for the first time.
A different form of the ampox virus – clade IIb – spread worldwide in 2022, mainly through sexual contact between men who have sex with men. This prompted the WHO to then declare a public health emergency, which ended 10 months later.