‘Mpox is not new Covid’ – WHO expert allays fears

Mpox is “not the new Covid”, because authorities clearly know how to control its spread, a leading World Health Organization expert has said.

And strong action now – including ensuring vaccines reach the areas most in need – could stop another cycle of panic and neglect.

Mpox has killed at least 450 p****e in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the former Zaire, in recent months, linked to Clade Ib.

No Clade Ib cases have been seen in the UK – but experts warn it can spread unless international action is taken.

A different variant, Clade II, was behind the 2022 o******k that initially affected Europe and continues to circulate in many parts of the world.

But experts know how to control mpox, regardless of the variant – through non-discriminatory public-health action and equitable access to vaccines, Dr Kluge says.

The virus, which causes a fever and rash, can be spread by skin-to-skin contact with lesions, including during s*x.

Dr Kluge said the risk to the general population was low.

“Are we going to go in lockdown in the WHO European region, it’s another Covid-19? The answer is clearly: ‘no’,” he said.

“Two years ago, we controlled mpox in Europe thanks to the direct engagement with the most affected communities of men who have s*x with men,” Dr Kluge said.

“In 2022, mpox showed us it can spread quickly around the world.

“We can, and must, tackle mpox together – across regions and continents.

“Will we choose to put the systems in place to control and eliminate mpox globally or will we enter another cycle of panic, then neglect?”

About 100 new Clade II cases were now being reported in the European region every month, Dr Kluge added.

WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said the WHO was not recommending the use of masks.

“We are not recommending mass vaccination. We are recommending to use vaccines in o******k settings for the groups who are most at risk,” he added.

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