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The rapid spread of a new strain of the mpox virus across Africa and beyond has prompted the World Health Organization to declare it a public health emergency of international concern.

With the world just beginning to return to a state of normalcy following the unprecedented long, global lockdown due to the unprecedented COVID19 pandemic, this news is unsettling for many.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, was first reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 1970’s, and is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. Of the same family as smallpox, the symptoms of mpox are flu-like, including fever, headache, and muscle aches, but the key symptom is a characteristic rash on the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or near the genitals.

The rash resembles blisters, and a person can get anywhere between one to several thousand sores. Until all of the blisters have become scabs which fall off, and all lesions have healed, those who have contracted it are considered infectious.

The virus is spread through close contact, but can also be contracted by touching contaminated objects.

Generally, it takes between three to seventeen days for infected people to show symptoms. The fatality rate of mpox has been between 0.1 to 10%.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the number of cases reported annually has steadily risen.

However, in the past month,, four countries neighboring Congo, which did not have any reported cases before - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda - confirmed cases of the new clade 1b strain.

The World Health Organization designated mpox an emergency on August 14. Despite the disease having been around for decades, it is the first time it has been labeled a health emergency.

Mpox has been declared an emergency due to the rapid increase in cases across Africa, and the severity of a newly identified strain, Clade 1.

This new particular strain of mpox, known as clade 1b is likely to be a recent mutation. The new strain has a higher fatality rate of 3.6%, and is stronger than both clade 2 and the parent strain.

Compared to previous spikes in cases, what we are witnessing now is a rapid spread through close contact among children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups. The recent huge spike in the number of cases has been beyond what was expected by experts.

This new strain has also been detected in Sweden and Thailand. Sweden was the first case caused by the clade 1 variant of mpox to be diagnosed outside Africa.

The growing outbreak spreading from Africa is largely seen as the result of neglect by the global community.

The affected African nations have few resources to stop the epidemic.

For instance, the majority of the populations in Africa are not vaccinated against smallpox, which provides some protection against mpox, making them more susceptible.

A coordinated international response is crucial at this time. Our shared experience with the coronavirus pandemic demonstrates that in today’s globalized world, a united front is needed to prevent another global health crisis.

Globally, people should stay informed and individuals must be vigilant about cleaning and disinfecting objects they come in contact with to prevent risks of transmission.

A decisive response to curb the disease is required from the global community. The best way to contain the outbreak and end its spread is aid to African countries to strengthen response in the form of vaccines, medication, and expertise.

Additionally, international organizations and developed countries have a moral responsibility to urgently aid the mpox-affected countries in Africa through funding, which will greatly enhance their capacity to respond.

Global research also needs to be intensified to prepare for and prevent future pandemics.