The recent mpox outbreaks in Africa, which prompted the World Health Organization to declare a state of emergency, are primarily attributed to years of neglect and the global community's failure to effectively manage sporadic epidemics in a population with limited immunity to this smallpox-related virus, according to African scientists who spoke on Tuesday.

Dr. Dimie Ogoina, chair of the WHO's mpox emergency committee, emphasized that this negligence has facilitated the emergence of a new, more transmissible variant of the virus in resource-limited countries struggling to control outbreaks.

Mpox, commonly referred to as monkeypox, had been circulating largely unnoticed in Africa for years prior to the 2022 outbreak that affected over 70 countries, Ogoina noted during a virtual press briefing.

He pointed out, "What we are currently observing in Africa differs significantly from the global outbreak of 2022." While that outbreak predominantly affected gay and bisexual men, the transmission of mpox in Africa is now occurring through sexual contact as well as close interactions among children, pregnant women, and other at-risk populations.

While it is true that many individuals over the age of 50 have likely received vaccinations against smallpox, which could offer some degree of protection against mpox, this is not applicable to the predominantly young population in Africa, who, according to Ogoina, are largely vulnerable to the disease.

Mpox is part of the same viral family as smallpox but typically results in less severe symptoms, such as fever and body aches. The virus primarily spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual activity. In more severe cases, individuals may experience significant blisters on the face, hands, chest, and genital areas.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization declared the escalating mpox outbreaks in Congo and 11 other African nations a global emergency.

On Tuesday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 22,800 mpox cases and 622 fatalities across the continent, noting a staggering 200% increase in infections within the past week. The majority of cases and deaths are concentrated in Congo, where most infections occur in children under the age of 15.

Dr. Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, a scientist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, played a crucial role in identifying the latest variant of mpox. He noted that the diagnostic tests currently employed in the country often fail to detect this variant, which poses challenges in tracking its transmission.

In May, Mbala-Kingebeni, who leads a laboratory at the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Congo, published findings indicating a new strain of mpox that, while potentially less lethal, exhibits higher transmissibility. He remarked that the observed mutations indicated a greater adaptation for human-to-human transmission. However, the limited availability of testing in Congo and other regions hampers efforts to effectively monitor outbreaks.

This new variant has also been reported in four additional African nations and in Sweden, where health authorities confirmed the first case of an individual infected with this more contagious form of mpox, acquired during travel in Africa.

The World Health Organization has stated that current data does not indicate that this new variant poses a greater threat, although investigations are ongoing.

Marion Koopmans, a virologist at Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands who has been researching mpox, highlighted that the disease is having notable effects, including instances of miscarriages among pregnant women and cases of newborns being born with mpox infection.

Ogoina, a professor specializing in infectious diseases at Niger Delta University in Nigeria, emphasized that in the absence of vaccines and medications, health professionals in Africa should prioritize supportive care. This includes ensuring that patients have adequate nutrition and access to mental health resources, particularly due to the stigma associated with mpox.

“It is extremely regrettable that after 54 years of mpox, we are only now considering therapeutic options,” he remarked.

Mbala-Kingebeni suggested that strategies previously employed to control Ebola outbreaks in Africa could be beneficial, especially given the limited vaccine supply anticipated. He noted that while authorities estimate a need for approximately 10 million doses in Africa, only about 500,000 doses may be available, with no clear timeline for their arrival.

“Identifying cases and vaccinating in the vicinity, similar to our approach with Ebola, could assist in targeting the outbreak hotspots,” he stated.

Koopmans emphasized that, in light of the pressing demand for vaccines in Africa, it is impractical to wait for additional doses to be manufactured.

“The immediate concern is determining who possesses vaccines and identifying the most effective locations for their deployment,” she stated.

On Tuesday, Spain’s health ministry declared its intention to utilize its stockpile of mpox vaccines by donating 20% of its supply, approximately 500,000 doses, to African nations facing mpox outbreaks.

“We find it illogical to hoard vaccines in areas where they are not required,” the health ministry of Spain remarked in a statement, further indicating that Spain would urge the European Commission to recommend that all member states contribute 20% of their vaccine reserves.

Spain’s contribution surpasses the commitments made by the European Union, Bavarian Nordic, and the United States. Last week, the Africa CDC reported that the EU and Bavarian Nordic had pledged 215,000 mpox vaccines, while the U.S. announced a donation of 50,000 doses to Congo. Japan has also provided some doses to Congo.

On Tuesday, the United States provided Nigeria with 10,000 doses of mpox vaccines, marking the first shipment of these vaccines to Africa since the declaration of a global emergency. This donation comes as Nigeria has reported several dozen cases of mpox this year.