Spain has pledged to donate 500,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to combat a growing outbreak of the disease in Africa, the country’s Health Ministry announced on Tuesday. The donation, which constitutes 20 per cent of Spain’s vaccine stockpile, aims to support efforts to control the virus’s spread, particularly in regions heavily impacted by the recent surge in cases.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified mpox as a global public health emergency following a surge in cases originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The virus has spread to neighbouring countries, and the emergence of a new variant, known as Clade Ib, has raised concerns about its increased transmissibility.
An emergency committee convened to advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on whether the outbreak meets the criteria for a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). The PHEIC status, WHO’s highest alert level, aims to accelerate research, funding, and international cooperation to contain the disease.
“It’s clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” Tedros stated.
Understanding Mpox and the Outbreak’s Spread
Mpox, which can spread through close contact, generally causes mild illness but can be fatal in rare cases. Symptoms include flu-like signs and distinctive pus-filled lesions on the skin. The current outbreak in the DRC began with the endemic clade I strain but has since been exacerbated by the clade Ib variant, which appears to transmit more easily through routine close contact, including sexual interactions.
The virus has spread to countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, prompting swift action from the WHO.
“The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern DRC, its detection in neighbouring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” Tedros added.
WHO’s Response to the Crisis
In response to the escalating situation, WHO has released $1.5 million from its contingency funds, with plans to allocate additional funds in the coming days. The organisation’s response plan requires an initial $15 million, and WHO intends to seek further financial support from international donors.
Africa’s top public health body, Africa CDC, has also declared an mpox emergency on the continent, following reports of more than 17,000 suspected cases and over 500 deaths this year, predominantly among children in the DRC. The rapid spread of the virus has prompted calls for urgent international assistance and intervention.
Professor Dimie Ogoina, chair of the WHO’s mpox emergency committee, stressed that the current surge in cases represents an “extraordinary event,” with record numbers of infections reported in the DRC.
The effectiveness of vaccines and behaviour change was demonstrated during the 2022 global outbreak, which primarily affected men who have sex with men and led to a previous WHO emergency declaration.
As Spain joins the global effort to combat the mpox outbreak, the focus remains on coordinated international action, increased funding, and rapid vaccine distribution to prevent further spread of the virus and save lives.
