The regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Europe, Hans Kluge, said this Tuesday (20), in Geneva, that mpox – regardless of whether it is the new variant 1, behind the current outbreak in Africa, or variant 2, responsible for the global emergency in 2022 – does not constitute “a new covid”.
“We know a lot about variant 2. We still need to learn more about variant 1. Based on what we know, mpox is transmitted mainly through skin-to-skin contact with lesions, including during sex,” he said. “We know how to control mpox and – on the European continent – the steps needed to eliminate transmission completely,” he said.
The WHO regional director recalled that two years ago, it was possible to control the disease in Europe thanks to direct engagement with the most affected groups, including men who have sex with men (MSM). “We implemented robust surveillance, thoroughly investigated new contacts of patients and provided sound public health advice,” he detailed.
“Behaviour change, non-discriminatory public health actions and vaccination against mpox have contributed to controlling the outbreak [em 2022]”, he said. “But due to a lack of commitment and resources, we failed in the final stretch,” he warned, noting that Europe is currently registering around 100 new cases of variant 2 every month.
Global emergency
For Kluge, the new global emergency due to mpox – caused by the new variant 1 – allows the continent to also focus on variant 2. Among the actions highlighted by him are strengthening surveillance and diagnosis of cases and issuing public health recommendations, including for travelers, “based on science, not fear, without stigma and without discrimination”.
The WHO Europe director also highlighted the need to acquire vaccines and antiviral drugs for those who need them most, in accordance with risk strategies. “In short, even if we reinforce surveillance against the new variant 1, we can – and must – strive to eliminate variant 2 from the continent once and for all,” he said.
“The need for a coordinated response at this time is greatest in the African region. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared mpox a continental emergency shortly before the global declaration made by the WHO. Europe must choose to act in solidarity,” he concluded, citing immediate actions for what he described as a “critical moment”, as well as long-term actions.
