By Jennifer Amarachi
The Africa Centre for Disease Control on Tuesday declared a public health emergency as a result of the continent’s expanding mpox outbreak.
The pandemic has spread to other African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There is a major and expanding outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has spread beyond the country.
A novel viral strain, discovered in September 2023, has been found for the first time outside of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Since the beginning of 2024, the DRC has been facing a significant outbreak of mpox, with over 14,000 confirmed cases and 511 fatalities.
Mpox outbreaks have been documented in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for decades, and the number of cases reported each year has progressively increased.
However, the number of cases reported in the first six months of this
year is equal to the number reported last year, and the virus has spread to previously untouched provinces.
“With a heavy heart but an unwavering commitment to our people, to our African citizens, we declare mpox as a public health emergency of continental security.
“Mpox has now crossed borders, affecting thousands across our continent, families have been torn apart, and the pain and suffering have touched every corner of our continent,” said Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa CDC, during an online press briefing.
Kaseya highlighted that the proclamation is more than just a formality; it is a clear call to action. “It acknowledges that we can no longer afford to be reactive. We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat,” he stated.
