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The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern amid a growing number of cases of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and countries in Africa1.
The rapid spread in the DRC and neighbouring countries has been linked to a new clade of mpox 1b, with new sexually transmissible strains of the virus1. This is occurring after outbreaks of other mpox clades in the DRC and Africa, and with more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths reported this year, it has created a global emergency1.
In 2022 the global outbreak of clade II mpox resulted in more than 95,000 cases across 155 countries. Control strategies including surveillance and vaccination were effective in sustaining a decrease in case numbers and will be critical in the response to this global emergency2.
It is essential that healthcare workers in Australia are aware of the risk to the community and are familiar with symptoms to mitigate risks. Australian healthcare workers should familiarise themselves with the ACIPC position statement on mpox. The statement highlights prevention and mitigation strategies.
More information can be found on the ACIPC mpox position statement by clicking the link below:
https://www.acipc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mpox-position-statement-Issued-05-06-2024.pdf
- WHO Director-General declares mpox outbreak a public health emergency of i nternational concern. News release. WHO; 14 August 2024, 2024. https://www.who.int/news/item/14-08-2024-who-director-general-declares-mpox-outbreak-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern
- United States Government’s Response to the Clade I Mpox Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Other Countries in the Region. US Department of Health and Human Services; 2024. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/08/14/united-states-governments-response-clade-i-mpox-outbreak-democratic-republic-congo-other-countries-region.html