Mpox Is Not The New COVID: WHO Clarifies Amid Rising Cases In Europe And Africa

The European chief of the World Health Organization (WHO), Hans Kluge, emphasized that Mpox, despite being declared a public health emergency of international concern, "is not the new COVID."

"Mpox is not the new COVID, whether it's the pox clade I, currently causing an outbreak in East and Central Africa, or pox clade II, responsible for the 2022 outbreak that initially hit Europe and continues to circulate there," Kluge stated, highlighting the differences between the variants of the disease, as reported by NDTV.

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Mpox Is Not The New COVID: WHO

Kluge further explained that Mpox primarily spreads through skin-to-skin contact with lesions, including during sexual activity. Unlike COVID-19, Mpox does not spread through the air but rather through direct physical contact.

The WHO has urged all countries to remain vigilant and prepared for potential Mpox cases within their borders. According to Kluge, "We know how to control Mpox, and in the European Region, we have the steps necessary to eliminate its transmission altogether."

The WHO's website reports that in the WHO African region, 95% of confirmed cases in 2024 have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which is currently experiencing a surge in Mpox cases, as reported by Reuters. The DRC has reported over 15,000 clinically compatible cases and more than 500 deaths, already surpassing the number of cases observed in 2023.

This year, cases of Mpox linked to one variant have also been reported in the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo, while another variant has been detected in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, and South Africa. On August 15, Sweden became the first country outside the African continent to confirm a case of the Mpox clade 1b variant in an individual who had travelled to central Africa, according to the WHO, as per media reports.

Kluge noted that the European region is currently seeing around 100 new mpox cases each month. "While anyone can catch Mpox, not everyone is at equal risk," he said. "People who closely interact with someone who is infectious, particularly through sexual contact, are at greater risk for infection. This includes sexual partners, household members, and health workers." The WHO continues to monitor the situation and work with countries to prevent the spread of Mpox globally.