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.
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
It is a far cry from the 2022 outbreak where thousands of cases were recorded, mostly in London
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.
