WHO says Mpox is not the new covid

The World Health Organization (WHO) has dismissed comparisons between the viral Mpox outbreak and covid-19, emphasizing that established control measures are already in place.
“We know how to control mpox – and in the European region – the steps needed to eliminate its transmission altogether,” Dr Hans Kluge, regional director of Europe at WHO, said on Tuesday.
The global health agency last week declared the viral outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).  Shortly after, a case of the Mpox strain clade 1b was confirmed in Sweden, involving an individual who had visited an affected region in Africa, marking the first instance of the virus outside of Africa.
According to current scientific understanding, the virus primarily spreads through skin-to-skin contact with Mpox lesions, including during sexual activity.
When asked if Europe would face covid-like lockdowns, the UN health agency official firmly stated it won’t.
“Mpox is ‘not the new covid’ and European governments need to show strong political commitment to eliminate it, while standing in solidarity with Africa,” Dr Kluge said.
In a video address, Dr Kluge noted that the 2022 European Mpox outbreak was successfully contained, “thanks to the direct engagement with the most affected communities of men who have sex with men.”
The WHO declared a global health emergency back in July 2022 following the worldwide outbreak of the less severe clade 2b strain of Mpox, primarily affecting gay and bisexual men. This emergency status was lifted in May of this year.
However, it’s crucial to understand that anyone can contract Mpox through sexual contact with an infected person, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Dr Kluge also attributed “behavior change, non-discriminatory public health action and Mpox vaccination” to Europe’s success in controlling the outbreak back in 2022.
However, he noted that the region “failed to go the last mile” in completely eradicating the disease and is now seeing about 100 new cases of clade 2 Mpox each month.
The current heightened response over the new and more severe strain, clade 1, provides European health authorities with an opportunity to also prioritize clade 2 and completely eradicate it, Dr Kluge said in his address.
Meanwhile, Pune-based Serum Institute of India chief executive Adar Poonawalla said the vaccine manufacturer was “hopeful” about the progress of the vaccine.
“In view of the global health emergency declared due to the Mpox outbreak, Serum Institute is currently working on developing a vaccine for this disease to cater to millions of lives that might be at risk,” he said in a statement. “Hopefully, with the ongoing progress, we will have more updates and positive news to share within a year’s time.”