In response to Mpox outbreak, the World Health Organization has announced that it has activated the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC) for the first time. This signals an urgent response effort to control the disease across multiple regions.
Mpox is a viral infection caused by the MPXV virus, which primarily spreads through close contact. Symptoms typically appear within 21 days. The symptoms include fever, headache, back pain, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and a pox-like rash lasting two to three weeks.
Africa has already reported over 15,600 Mpox cases and 537 deaths this year.
The WHO founded the GHEC in 2023 to address the shortcomings and issues uncovered during the COVID-19 response. It signifies a unified, worldwide initiative to optimise emergency assistance and guarantee prompt actions during health emergencies.
The GHEC is aiding the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other affected countries. It is deploying essential workforce expertise to support comprehensive strategies such as case detection, contact tracing, targeted vaccinations. It also includes clinical and home care, infection prevention, community engagement and logistics.
In 2022, WHO had classified Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The GHEC has been tasked with rapidly assessing the capacity of health systems in the hardest-hit areas. WHO has also asked pharmaceutical manufacturers to assess their preparedness in providing diagnostic tests to affected populations.
Mpox cases are reported in 18 African countries in 2024, with the fast-spreading clade 1b strain also appearing in other global regions. India has become the third country outside Africa, besides Sweden and Thailand, to report a case of the more lethal clade 1b of Mpox.
GHEC has completed assessments across eight affected countries. It has identified 22 critical areas for improvement in response capabilities, such as surveillance, laboratory resources, infection control and community outreach. It is working in partnership with the International Association of National Public Health Institutes.
As part of the GHEC activation, technical leaders from affected nations joined forces with experts from other countries with prior Mpox experience to discuss response measures and coordinate efforts to stem the outbreak.
