Geneva, August 20, 2024 (CBS/AFP) – The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized on Tuesday that the current mpox outbreak is not comparable to the COVID-19 pandemic, asserting that the virus is well understood and can be effectively controlled. This statement comes in the wake of the WHO’s declaration of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) due to rising cases of the Clade 1b strain in Africa.
Hans Kluge, the WHO’s European regional director, highlighted the differences between mpox and COVID-19 during a media briefing in Geneva. “Mpox is not the new COVID,” Kluge stated firmly. “We have the knowledge and tools to control mpox, especially in the European region, where we are already aware of the steps necessary to eliminate its transmission.”
The WHO previously declared a PHEIC in July 2022 for the Clade 2b strain of mpox, which predominantly affected gay and bisexual men. This international alert was lifted in May 2023 after successful containment efforts.
Kluge credited the earlier containment of mpox in Europe to proactive engagement with affected communities. “Two years ago, we controlled mpox in Europe through direct engagement with the most impacted groups,” he said. “We established robust surveillance, conducted thorough contact tracing, and provided effective public health guidance. Behavior changes, non-discriminatory public health measures, and vaccination were key to curbing the outbreak.”
Kluge reassured the public that the risk posed by mpox to the general population remains low. He dismissed the notion of imposing COVID-19-like lockdowns in Europe, stating, “Are we going to go into lockdown in the WHO European region, as if this were another COVID-19? The answer is clearly no.”
Although Kluge noted that mpox transmission primarily occurs through close skin-to-skin contact, he acknowledged that more research is needed to fully understand the virus’s transmission methods. “The modes of transmission are still a bit unclear,” he said. “There is a possibility that someone in the acute phase of mpox infection, especially with oral blisters, could spread the virus through droplets in close-contact settings, such as homes or hospitals.”
WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic added that the organization is not advocating for the use of masks or mass vaccination at this stage. “We recommend using vaccines in outbreak settings for the groups most at risk,” he said.
The recent surge in mpox cases, particularly in Central Africa, has raised global concerns. On August 14, the WHO declared an international health emergency due to the escalating number of Clade 1b cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its spread to neighboring countries.
This declaration followed an earlier emergency alert from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported over 500 deaths attributed to mpox and called for international assistance to prevent further spread.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern over the situation. “This is something that should concern us all,” he stated. “The potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying.”
The WHO’s continued monitoring and response efforts aim to contain the outbreak and prevent mpox from becoming a more widespread global health threat.