The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared mpox a public health emergency, raising concerns about the virus’s rapid spread across the continent. The declaration was made by Africa CDC head Jean Kaseya during an online media briefing on Tuesday, emphasizing the urgent need for action.
“I declare with a heavy heart but with an unyielding commitment to our people, to our African citizens, we declare mpox as a public health emergency of continental security,” Kaseya announced. He highlighted the widespread impact of the outbreak, noting that mpox has crossed borders and affected thousands of individuals across Africa, with significant suffering reported in numerous communities.
According to Africa CDC data as of August 4, the continent has recorded 38,465 mpox cases and 1,456 deaths since January 2022. The declaration is not just a procedural move but a “clarion call to action,” urging health authorities to adopt a proactive and aggressive approach to contain and eliminate the virus.
Mpox, which is transmitted through close contact, causes rashes, flu-like symptoms, and pus-filled lesions. While most cases are mild, the disease can be deadly, especially for children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.
The outbreak has been particularly severe in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the virus was first identified in humans in 1970. Initially, the spread was driven by an endemic strain known as clade 1, but a new variant, clade 1b, has emerged, which appears to spread more easily through routine close contact.
This year alone, Africa has reported more than 15,000 mpox cases and 461 deaths, a 160 percent increase from the same period last year. The Africa CDC has expressed alarm at the infection’s rapid spread.
Mpox
The World Health Organization (WHO) had previously declared a public health emergency of international concern in 2022, following the virus’s spread to over 100 countries. Although the WHO lifted this emergency after 10 months, declaring the crisis under control, the emergence of the new clade has prompted renewed concern. The WHO’s emergency committee is set to discuss the situation and will consider whether to re-declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
The Africa CDC’s declaration underscores the critical need for coordinated efforts to combat the mpox outbreak across the continent and prevent further loss of life.
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