For the second time in two years, the World Health Organization has declared Mpox a global health emergency of international concern.

The disease – formerly known as monkeypox – has killed at least 450 people during an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has now spread across parts of central and east Africa.

BBC News says two main strains of the virus have been circulating and scientists are concerned about how fast a new variant is spreading and its high fatality rate.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond “is very worrying” and warns that “A co-ordinated international response is essential to stop this outbreak and save lives.”

By declaring the Mpox outbreak as a public health emergency, it’s hoped that research, funding, and the introduction of other international public health measures will be accelerated.

Mpox is highly infectious and spreads through close contact with someone who is infected – for example, through sex, skin-to-skin contact and talking or breathing close to another person.

It can cause lesions across the whole body and can be deadly in some cases.