The recent outbreak of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, does not pose the same level of threat to European countries as the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe.
“Mpox is not the ‘new COVID,’” Kluge stated during a briefing. He emphasized that the virus can be controlled, and in the European region, the necessary steps to eliminate its transmission are well understood. Kluge added that since 2022, European governments and health authorities have developed effective strategies to manage the disease. However, he noted that the resources and commitment needed to completely eradicate the threat have been lacking.
Currently, Europe is seeing around 100 new cases of mpox clade II each month. Kluge warned that the ongoing efforts to contain the disease represent a critical test for both Europe and the world.
About Mpox
Mpox is a rare viral disease endemic to remote areas near tropical forests in Central and Western Africa. The first documented case of animal-to-human transmission occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970. According to the WHO, the virus is typically transmitted to humans by wild animals such as rodents and primates, with limited secondary spread among humans. The fatality rate in mpox outbreaks ranges from 1% to 10%, with the highest mortality rates seen in younger age groups.
In response to the outbreak, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus previously declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern.