U.S. Department of State | Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy’s Post

Upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR)

𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐩𝐨𝐱 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 🌍 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐌𝐩𝐨𝐱 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 🌏 The mpox outbreak in Africa is escalating, with the WHO chief considering declaring it an international health emergency. 𝐀 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝐛, 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚, 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐥𝐲. The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported over 29,000 cases and 1,100 fatalities, mostly among children. The #WHO, #Africa CDC, and local governments are ramping up their response efforts, but more funding and support are needed. The international community must step up to provide the necessary resources and expertise. Let’s work together to combat this crisis and protect vulnerable populations. 🌱 #PublicHealth #GlobalHealth #MpoxOutbreak #Africa #HealthEmergency #WHO #AfricaCDC Read more here : https://lnkd.in/eAfT5zaK

ICYMI: We wrote about some ongoing work in multi-lateral collaboration for health security in West (+ Central) Africa. If Africa and the world most remain secure, we have to ensure that a regional lynchpin like Nigeria is able to effectively coordinate with the countries in its 'epidemiological gravity well' to deploy effective early warning, joint investigation and response systems for disease outbreaks. https://lnkd.in/dXhgVyES

Publication Alert !!! Harnessing the power of implementation Science is essential in tackling Africa's escalating Mpox outbreak. This approach goes beyond traditional methods, providing a robust framework for designing and executing interventions that are both context -sensitive and evidence based. This correspondence demonstrates how implementation science can lead to a more coordinated, impactful public health response, ultimately protecting vulnerable populations. https://lnkd.in/dKRcbbXk

🛡️ 𝗠𝗽𝗼𝘅 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 🛡️ The WHO Director-General has declared the Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), with over 16,000 cases across 75 countries. This declaration underscores the urgent need for a globally coordinated response, particularly in regions with limited healthcare access. For the maritime industry, this outbreak poses unique challenges. Companies must enhance their Loss Prevention measures by staying informed about crew health, ensuring access to accurate medical advice, and implementing effective quarantine and treatment protocols. As the situation evolves, proactive management and adherence to WHO recommendations are key to minimizing operational risks and protecting vulnerable populations. #PublicHealth #GlobalHealth #Mpox #WHO #HealthSecurity #LossPrevention #MaritimeSafety #MarineSurveyors #SkandinavianAgencyServices #PnIsurveyors

🌍 𝗠𝗽𝗼𝘅 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮: 𝗔 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗨𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 🚨 The WHO has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) as a new, highly transmissible variant of mpox spreads rapidly in Africa. The outbreak, originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has now extended to neighboring countries, raising alarms about its potential for global transmission. With over 17,000 suspected cases and 500+ deaths in 2024 alone, the need for international collaboration has never been more critical. What steps must the global community take to contain this escalating threat? 🔗 Read more about the crisis at:https://lnkd.in/g7NuqEsd #PublicHealth #GlobalEmergency #Mpox #Africa #WHO #HealthCrisis #InternationalCooperation

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has declared the increase in mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other African countries as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). This decision, advised by an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, is due to the potential for the virus to spread further in Africa and potentially beyond. The emergence and rapid spread of a new strain of mpox in the DRC and its detection in neighbouring countries have been highlighted as particularly worrying. WHO is working closely with affected communities and governments to reinforce measures to curb the virus. This is the second PHEIC declaration relating to mpox in two years, with over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths reported this year. The WHO is seeking immediate funding of US$ 15 million for surveillance, preparedness and response activities, and has released US$ 1.45 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies. https://lnkd.in/dN45XXQM

I'm pleased to announce the publication of our article "Harnessing wastewater‐based surveillance (WBS) in Africa: a historic turning point towards strengthening the pandemic control" discussing the opportunities of WBS for public health decision making. #WHO #UNICEF #CDC #BMGF #ResolveToSaveLives #AfricaCDC WBS represents a game-changing opportunity to bolster Africa's public health resilience against future pandemics. I hope policymakers from #AfricanUnion #WHOAFRO #UNEnvironment will take note of this promising tool. Our analysis also highlights capacity building needs that African governments #AUC_DPA #MoHOfficialNG and aid partners #UNICEFAfrica #MSF_Africa could consider supporting.

https://lnkd.in/df4ck8kh ITs official..another PHEIC....that's...Public Health Emergency of International Concern is declared for Mpox. It's been raging in DRC since 2023- but with a spike in cases..just under 500 deaths and 15000 cases..spread to multiple countries, a new epidemioigical profile (worse outcomes in under 15), new mode of transmission- serial transmission via key populations and multicountry spread...the World Health Organization agreed with the evaluation of the Africa CDC - so for the first time in history...we have a continental and global #PHEIC. What does this mean? Will translate into better coordination of the response, more country ownership by #countryleadership and the African Union ? More investment in #medicalcountermeasures? Look at the FIND #PDRXi...Pathogen Diagnostics Readiness Index to see the diagnostic gap. Be aware, teams (in DRC and globally) have been monitoring the situation and a regional meeting was called earlier this year... So what should we expect that will be different? Action....not politics!

🛡️ 𝗠𝗽𝗼𝘅 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 🛡️ The WHO Director-General has declared the Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), with over 16,000 cases across 75 countries. This declaration underscores the urgent need for a globally coordinated response, particularly in regions with limited healthcare access. For the maritime industry, this outbreak poses unique challenges. Companies must enhance their Loss Prevention measures by staying informed about crew health, ensuring access to accurate medical advice, and implementing effective quarantine and treatment protocols. As the situation evolves, proactive management and adherence to WHO recommendations are key to minimizing operational risks and protecting vulnerable populations. #PublicHealth #GlobalHealth #Mpox #WHO #HealthSecurity #LossPrevention #MaritimeSafety #MarineSurveyors #PnIsurveyors #SkandinavianAgencyServices