The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday that it will convene an emergency committee to assess whether the ongoing mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
Since the beginning of 2023, the outbreak in Congo has resulted in approximately 27,000 cases and over 1,100 deaths, predominantly affecting children. The situation has prompted concern as additional cases have been reported in neighboring countries—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda—where mpox had not previously been documented.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed that the emergency committee will be assembled due to the outbreak’s spread across borders and the potential for further international transmission. The committee, composed of international experts, will provide advice and recommendations on whether the outbreak warrants the highest level of alert, known as a “public health emergency of international concern.” The final decision will be made by the Director-General.
While the WHO has not yet set a specific date for the emergency committee’s meeting, it has released $1 million from its contingency fund to bolster the response efforts. Further funding is expected in the coming days.
In addition, the WHO has initiated the process for the emergency use listing of two mpox vaccines—Bavarian Nordic’s Jynneos and KM Biologics’ LC16—to expedite access. These vaccines were approved for use by Congolese authorities in June.
The outbreak initially involved an endemic strain known as Clade I, but the newer Clade Ib variant, which spreads more easily through routine close contact, has been identified in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The presence of this strain in Burundi is still under investigation.
A different variant, Clade IIb, which caused global concern in 2022 through sexual transmission, led the WHO to declare a public health emergency at that time. Although that emergency has been declared over, the WHO continues to regard mpox as a significant health threat.
