Rising Mpox Outbreak in Africa – A Wake-Up Call to the World

Recently, the world has been alerted to the escalating mpox outbreak in the African region, with the situation now declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is a stirring reminder of the interconnectedness of global health and the perils of ignoring health issues deemed remote.

Discovered in monkeys in 1958 and jumping to humans by 1970, mpox was largely disregarded by global health authorities for decades. Perceived as a regional problem confined to remote parts of tropical Africa, the viral infection saw scant attention from the broader public health and scientific communities. However, the 2022 outbreak that roared through non-endemic regions, affecting over 99,000 people globally and resulting in more than 200 deaths, exposed this oversight as a grave miscalculation.

The WHO's emergency declaration underscores the urgency of a coordinated response to an outbreak that has rocked both African countries and global communities. This pathogen has not respected borders, with men who have sex with men bearing the brunt of the epidemic outside of Africa, likely due to sexual transmission. Yet, the availability of modern vaccines and antiviral drugs has been instrumental in bringing down infection rates in wealthier countries, showcasing yet again the inequities in access to health interventions.

At the crux of the current African upsurge is the more virulent Clade I strain of the MPXV virus, centered in South Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Neighboring countries, previously unaffected, are now witnessing cases, raising concerns over a potentially large-scale pandemic. This strain has a higher fatality rate and, combined with regional challenges such as natural disasters, violence, and the recent Ebola outbreak, poses a formidable threat to containment efforts.

African researchers have long advocated for greater investment in diagnostic and preventative tools for mpox. Their calls, now more than ever, need to be heard and acted upon. Investments in scientific research must be prioritized not only for emergency response but also for understanding the disease's exposure settings, transmission routes, and clinical features. It is here that the proposed African-led Mpox Research Consortium (MpoxReC) plays a critical role, spearheading efforts toward eradicating mpox as a public health threat.

As the world watches this outbreak unfold, it is crucial to remember that diseases are not confined by geographic boundaries. The current situation should serve as a stark reminder that global health security is dependent on our ability to act swiftly and justly when addressing health threats, wherever they may emerge.