Misinformation, disinformation, and fake news amid the new global Mpox emergency

Abstract

The identification of a new strain of the Mpox virus (clade Ib) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the alarming rise in cases across Africa linked to sexual activity, and the potential for a new pandemic led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on August 14, 2024 (https://www.paho.org/en/mpox). Between January 1 and September 15, 2024, a total of 6,201 cases and 32 deaths related to Mpox were confirmed in Africa, with the majority occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Additionally, cases of Mpox clade Ib were reported in Europe and Asia in August 2024.