WHO Official Warns of Mpox Spread in Europe

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director Hans Kluge has emphasized that mpox is not the new COVID-19, stressing the importance of global cooperation to manage its spread. He highlighted that the response to mpox, particularly the more transmissible clade 1b strain recently identified in Sweden and linked to outbreaks in Africa, will be a critical test for public health efforts worldwide. Kluge noted that Europe is currently reporting about 100 new cases of the less severe clade 2 strain each month, and he urged governments to reinforce public health measures that successfully controlled mpox in 2022. Emergent BioSolutions announced a donation of 50,000 doses of its smallpox vaccine to affected countries in Africa, which can also be used against mpox. Kluge's call for decisive action comes amidst concerns about a lack of commitment and resources from European governments to eliminate the virus. The WHO official reiterated the need to avoid a 'cycle of panic and neglect' in managing the outbreak.