The global mpox crisis continues to intensify, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reporting over 1,300 new cases in a single week. The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains its declaration of a global health emergency due to the rapid spread of the more virulent clade 1b variant. According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC-Africa), 94% of the total 18,910 cases reported so far in 2024 were in the DRC, with 535 of the 541 reported deaths also occurring in that country.In a concerning development, Thailand has reported its first suspected case of the clade 1b mpox variant. The patient, a 66-year-old European man who arrived from an unnamed African country on August 14, is currently isolated while authorities monitor those who had close contact with him. This case, if confirmed, would mark another instance of the clade 1b variant outside of Africa, following a case reported in Sweden.In response to the growing crisis, several countries are adjusting their strategies. France has announced it will donate 100,000 mpox vaccine doses to affected countries, while the United States has pledged 50,000 doses to the DRC. The Italian Ministry of Health has advised against travel to countries with confirmed outbreaks, and Spain has decided against mass vaccination for travelers to high-risk countries, instead opting to focus on strengthening detection and control measures.Hans Kluge, the WHO regional director for Europe, emphasized that while the situation is serious, ‘Mpox is not a new Covid’. However, he stressed the need for more effective strategies to combat both the clade 1b and clade 2 variants. As the global community grapples with this evolving threat, international collaboration and targeted interventions remain crucial in controlling the spread of mpox.
Key points
- The Democratic Republic of Congo reported over 1,300 new mpox cases in a single week.
- Thailand has reported its first suspected case of the clade 1b mpox variant in a European traveler.
- Several countries are adjusting their strategies, including vaccine donations and travel advisories.
- WHO emphasizes the need for international cooperation to control the spread of mpox.
Contradictions👾While some sources report over 1,000 new cases in the DRC, others specify 1,300 new cases, indicating some discrepancy in the exact figures.
