The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the mpox outbreak does not require the same level of concern as COVID-19. According to WHO, extensive knowledge already exists about the virus and the methods that can be employed to control it. Hans Kluge, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, said on Tuesday that while more research is needed on the clade 1b variant of mpox, the spread of the disease can be controlled. “Mpox is not the new COVID,” Kluge remarked during a media briefing in Geneva via videolink.
In July 2022, WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to the less severe clade 2b variant, which particularly impacted gay and bisexual men. This alarm was lifted in May 2023. Mpox, which is a viral infection causing pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms, is typically mild but can be fatal. The clade 1b variant raises global concern as it appears to spread more easily through close contact. A case of this variant was confirmed in Sweden last week and is linked to a growing outbreak in Africa.
Kluge emphasized that focusing on the new clade 1 gives Europe an opportunity to refocus on the less severe clade 2, including better public health messaging and monitoring. Currently, around 100 new cases of clade 2 mpox are reported each month in the European region. The primary mode of transmission remains close skin-to-skin contact. However, Kluge noted that it is possible for a person with mpox in the acute phase, especially with blisters in the mouth, to transmit the virus to close contacts through respiratory droplets in situations such as at home or in hospitals. “The modes of transmission are still somewhat unclear. More research is needed,” he added.
WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic explained that the organization does not recommend the use of masks or mass vaccination. “We recommend using vaccines in outbreak settings for the groups that are most at risk,” he said. The international health emergency was declared on August 14, following concerns about the increase in clade 1b cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its spread to neighboring countries.