Here We Go Again: WHO Declares Another “Emergency” While DRC Faces 10 Million Vaccine Shortage
The World Health Organization has declared yet another global health emergency with the rising mpox outbreak, primarily affecting Africa. Over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been reported this year alone, with the Democratic Republic of Congo bearing the brunt of the crisis. The new clade 1b strain is more deadly and transmissible than previous versions, affecting men, women, and children alike. Despite the alarm bells, Africa faces a staggering 10 million vaccine dose shortage, with a mere 200,000 currently available—revealing yet another catastrophic planning failure by global health authorities.
Another Day, Another “Global Emergency”
Just when you thought we’d escaped the era of health emergencies controlling our lives, the WHO has dusted off its emergency playbook once again. This time, it’s mpox—formerly known as monkeypox until someone decided the name wasn’t politically correct enough. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus, never one to miss an opportunity to expand his authority, stepped in as the “tiebreaker” when his own emergency committee couldn’t unanimously agree on declaring an emergency. How convenient that the Director-General gets to be judge, jury, and executioner when it comes to global health decisions.
It’s important to note that this isn’t even a new disease—mpox has been endemic in parts of Africa for decades. But suddenly, it’s warranting the highest level of international alarm. The WHO has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), which is essentially code for “prepare for potential restrictions and mandates.” If this all sounds eerily familiar, that’s because it’s ripped straight from the 2020 pandemic playbook—identify threat, amplify fear, declare emergency, then wait for the funding and control to roll in.
The Numbers Don’t Add Up
Let’s talk about the numbers here. While every death is tragic, we’re seeing global emergency declarations over an outbreak that has caused 524 deaths globally this year. Meanwhile, diseases that kill millions annually receive fraction of the attention or emergency status. What makes this particular outbreak so special? Could it be that global health organizations need a new crisis to justify their expanding budgets and influence? The WHO is already calling for an initial $15 million for their response plan—and you can bet that’s just the opening bid.
“Members of the IHR Committee emphasised the need for health authorities to invest in improving diagnosis, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Without comprehensive testing, we are essentially working blind” – Dimie Ogoina
Without comprehensive testing, they’re “essentially working blind”? Where have we heard that before? These organizations seem to have an uncanny ability to demand massive testing infrastructure for each new threat that emerges, regardless of whether the cost-benefit analysis makes any sense for impoverished nations already struggling with basic healthcare needs.
The Vaccine Shell Game
Perhaps the most egregious aspect of this whole situation is the vaccine shortage. While WHO officials wave their hands about global emergencies, Africa faces a staggering 10 MILLION dose shortage. Only 200,000 doses are currently available for a continent of 1.4 billion people. If this was truly the emergency they claim, wouldn’t there have been better preparation? Wouldn’t vaccine manufacturers already be scaling up production? It’s almost as if declaring emergencies comes much easier than actually solving the problems they identify.
Notice how vague and meaningless that statement is from Director-General Tedros. A “tailored and comprehensive response” with “communities at the centre”—what does that even mean in practical terms? It’s the kind of empty bureaucratic language designed to sound important while committing to absolutely nothing specific. Meanwhile, children in the DRC are suffering because basic healthcare infrastructure and supplies aren’t being prioritized over global health politics and posturing.
The Constitutional Question No One’s Asking
Lost in all the emergency declarations and calls for global coordination is a fundamental question Americans should be asking: What authority do these international organizations have over our health policies and freedoms? The Constitution doesn’t grant power to the WHO to dictate American health policy, yet we’ve seen how quickly these “emergency recommendations” can transform into domestic mandates and restrictions. We’re watching another potential power grab unfold in slow motion, with American sovereignty potentially at stake if we blindly follow whatever global emergency declarations come our way.
“Mpox control has to climb up the global health agenda. We have limited diagnostic tools and even fewer antiviral treatments. We urgently need better surveillance and local or regional capacity to produce what we need — otherwise, we are at risk of future epidemics.” – Dr Maluquer de Motes
Better “surveillance” and “capacity” always sound reasonable until you realize what they’re really asking for—more money, more control, and more unaccountable international bureaucracy. What Africa needs isn’t more WHO declarations and surveillance systems. They need practical solutions like clean water, basic medical supplies, and healthcare infrastructure—things that help with all diseases, not just the latest one grabbing headlines. But those unglamorous basics don’t expand bureaucratic empires or generate emergency funding the way a good old-fashioned “global emergency” does.
