As concern over the transmission of the mpox (formerly called monkeypox) virus mounts, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that the current pox outbreak is not a repeat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview with CNBC, WHO’s European Director Hans Kluge said that while the emergence of the Clade 1b strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries warrants attention, mpox does not pose the same level of threat as COVID-19.
“Mpox is not the new COVID,” Kluge stated during a media briefing. “We know how to control mpox and, in the European region, know the steps needed to eliminate its transmission altogether,” he said.
The declaration of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) last week has fueled concerns, but experts are confident that this outbreak is manageable and less severe than COVID-19.
In July 2022, the WHO had previously declared a PHEIC for a different strain of mpox, Clade 2b, which predominantly affected gay and bisexual men. The alarm was lifted in May 2023 after effective control measures were implemented.
According to Kluge, the approach to managing mpox involves robust surveillance, thorough investigation of new cases, public health advice, and vaccination efforts, which have proven successful in Europe.
Kluge reassured that the risk to the general population remains low adding that there will be no lockdowns or similar measures imposed as were seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are not going to treat mpox like COVID-19,” Kluge confirmed.
Transmission of mpox primarily occurs through close skin-to-skin contact. However, Kluge noted that transmission might also occur through droplets, particularly in acute cases with mouth blisters, though further research is needed to fully understand all transmission routes.
The WHO has advised against mass vaccination and the use of masks, instead recommending vaccines for high-risk groups in outbreak settings.
WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic reinforced this stance, highlighting the need for targeted vaccination strategies rather than broad public health measures.
The recent declaration of an international health emergency by the WHO follows a similar declaration by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported over 500 deaths linked to mpox.