Europe is registering 100 new mpox cases every month, a World Health Organization (WHO) chief warned today.
Dr Hans Kluge, the UN agency’s regional director for Europe said a ‘lack of commitment’ and ‘resources’ from European Governments has failed to eliminate the rash-causing virus.
But, addressing a UN Geneva Palais Briefing, he cautioned mpox was ‘not the “new Covid”.
It comes as a separate mutant form of the virus is currently spreading rampantly in Africa, killing an estimated 10 per cent of those infected.
It is a descendent of the deadly clade I strain of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, and different than the mild version which spread to over dozen countries, including the UK, in 2022.
Dr Hans Kluge (pictured in 2022), the UN agency’s regional director for Europe said a ‘lack of commitment’ and ‘resources’ from European Governments has failed to eliminate the rash-causing virus. But, addressing a UN Geneva Palais Briefing, he cautioned mpox was ‘not the “new Covid”
This map shows areas where cases of the new mpox strain has been confirmed (shaded in red) and those where nations deemed to be at risk of cases emerging according to UK health officials
Dr Kluge told the UN Geneva Palais Briefing: ‘Mpox is not the “new COVID”.
‘Regardless of whether it’s mpox clade I, behind the ongoing outbreak in east-central Africa — or mpox clade II, behind the 2022 outbreak that initially impacted Europe — and has continued to circulate in Europe since.
‘We know quite a lot about clade II already. We still have to learn more about clade I.
‘Based on what we do know, mpox primarily transmits through skin-to-skin contact with mpox lesions, including during sex.’
He added: ‘Today, we’re seeing about 100 new mpox clade II cases in the European Region every month.
‘However, the current state of alert due to clade I gives Europe the opportunity to refocus on clade II.
‘Two years ago, we controlled mpox in Europe thanks to the direct engagement with the most affected communities of men who have sex with men.
‘We put in place robust surveillance, we thoroughly investigated new cases contacts and we provided sound public health advice.
‘Behaviour change, non-discriminatory public health action, and mpox vaccination contributed to controlling the outbreak.
‘Learning from our success, we urged governments and health authorities to sustain those measures — to help eliminate mpox from Europe.
‘But through a lack of commitment and a lack of resources we failed to go the last mile.
‘In sum, even as we strengthen vigilance against mpox clade I, we can — and should — strive to eliminate clade II in Europe for once and for all.’
Latest WHO data shows more than 99,000 mpox cases have been logged globally since January 2022.
Clade II sparked alarm among health officials in 2022, however, new infections gradually tapered off amid boosted awareness of the disease and a hurried vaccination program.
At the time the UK reported almost 4,000 cases of this less severe form of mpox, with NHS England inoculating over 68,000 people against the disease with the smallpox vaccine, which works due to the two viruses being closely related.
The smallpox vaccine has been known to help prevent mpox due to the two viruses being closely related. But experts said there wasn’t yet enough evidence to suggest a vaccine would be effective against the new clade 1b strain
Clade II sparked alarm among health officials in 2022, however, new infections gradually tapered off amid boosted awareness of the disease and a hurried vaccination program. During the outbreak thousands of cases were recorded in the UK, mostly in London
This map shows the location of mpox cases by UK nation between January 2023 and as of the end of July this year
The mutant form currently worrying health experts, called clade Ib, kills about one in 20 adults it infects, rising to up to one in 10 children.
Infections have also been linked to an alarming rise in miscarriages among pregnant women.
The WHO declared the outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ last week.
This is the same designation the WHO gave Covid in late January 2020, just a few weeks before the virus ripped across the world.
Cases of the new strain are centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
More than 17,000 cases and 571 deaths have been logged in Africa this year, officials have said, a 160 percent surge compared to the same period last year.
However, it is unclear exactly how many cases, and deaths, the new strain accounts for with older versions still circulating.
The city of Goma in the DRC also has an international airport providing frequent direct flights to Europe — which experts have previously warned is a possible path for the virus to enter a new continent.
Last week Sweden reported its first case of the new deadly form, marking the first time it has been found outside of Africa.
Pakistan and the Philippines have since reported suspected cases, though they are waiting on test results to confirm if they are related to the strain.
Addressing the spread of Clade 1b during the briefing, Dr Kluge also said: ‘Europe must choose to act in solidarity.
‘Solidarity with individuals and communities impacted by mpox — by working directly with them to take charge of their own health.
‘And solidarity with the WHO African Region and its affected member states — both at this critical time and in the long term.
‘In 2022 mpox showed us it can spread quickly around the world. We can, and must, tackle mpox together — across regions and continents.’
He added: ‘How we respond now, and in the years to come, will prove a critical test for Europe – and the world.’
Pat McFadden, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, met with ministers from the Department for Health, Foreign Office and the UK’s chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty (pictured) on Monday. They met to ‘ensure sufficient plans are in place to deal with any potential cases’ Downing Street said
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has already cautioned it is ‘already planning’ for UK cases.
Dr Meera Chand, deputy director at the UKHSA, said the current threat to the UK by the new mpox strain is ‘currently considered low’.
But she added: ‘However, planning is underway to prepare for any cases that we might see in the UK.’
Rapid testing is being made available and GPs and hospitals have been told to isolate those with potential symptoms.
Pat McFadden, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, also met with ministers from the Department for Health, Foreign Office and the UK’s chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty on Monday.
They met to ‘ensure sufficient plans are in place to deal with any potential cases’ Downing Street said.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, causes characteristic lumpy lesions, as well as a fever, aches and pains and fatigue.
However, in a small number of cases, it can enter the blood and lungs, as well as other parts of the body, when it becomes life-threatening.
