The re-emergence of monkeypox (mpox) has ignited critical discussions among the global health experts on social media platform X in the second week of August 2024, following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) classification of mpox as Public Health Emergency of International Concern. As the clade I variant, widespread in Africa, poses significant risks including severe pain, disfigurement, and mortality, experts and influencers are calling for immediate international action to address the threat, reveals the Social Media Analytics Platform of GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Shreyasee Majumder, Social Media Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Influencers express concern about the mpox outbreak extending beyond Africa, particularly with the rapid dissemination of the more virulent clade Ib variant. They emphasize the urgency of global preparedness, calling for increased vaccine production and affordability. Many advocate for reallocating the existing vaccine stockpiles to Africa and stress the need for equitable vaccine distribution worldwide, rather than hoarding by wealthier nations.”

Below are a few popular influencer opinions captured by GlobalData’s Social Media Analytics Platform:

  1. Krutika Kuppalli, Infectious Diseases Physician in World Health Organization:

“This is exactly what we don’t want to be happening – resource rich countries rushing to stockpile vaccines for #mpox leaving the countries most affected and with mpox cases unable to procure these countermeasures.”

  1. Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS:

“The new mpox variant is hitting vulnerable communities hard, and we can’t afford delays. Vaccine manufacturers must ramp up production so that international partners rapidly deliver sufficient vaccine doses, treatments, and diagnostics to those most in need. Lives are on the line.  this is a test on global solidarity. We must not fail. ”

  1. Priya Sampathkumar, Infectious Diseases Physician:

“5/ Vaccine inequity however remains a problem. Mpox vaccine supplies are in the US and Europe, while the outbreak region has little to no vaccine”

  1. Donald Hackett, Publisher at Precision Vax LLC:

“WHO says…. Mass Mpox Vaccination Not Recommended… But international travelers may be at risk for this sexually transmitted disease when visiting countries reporting mpox outbreaks, such as in Africa.”

  1. Jerome Adams, Executive Director of Health Equity Initiatives at Purdue University:

“The @WHO has declared MPox a global health emergency. Unfortunately we are suffering from the same lack of urgency, resources, and cooperation that stymied our #COVID19 response, and our prior #Mpox response in 2022.”