Africa declares Mpox emergency as new strain spreads

Africa’s top health authority has declared mpox a public health emergency, responding to a rapidly spreading new strain of the virus. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reports over 13,700 cases and 450 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the year’s start, with the outbreak extending to several neighboring countries.

This emergency declaration aims to galvanize a coordinated response and increase the flow of medical supplies and aid to affected areas. Africa CDC head Jean Kaseya warns of potential uncontrolled spread without immediate containment efforts.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, spreads through close contact and can cause severe symptoms including fever and body-wide lesions. The current outbreak involves a deadlier strain than the one responsible for the 2022 global outbreak.

While three vaccines exist, they’re currently limited to high-risk individuals and close contacts of infected persons. Plans are underway to secure 10 million doses for Africa. As the continent battles this new health crisis, global health authorities are closely monitoring the situation, assessing the risk of further international spread.

The emergency highlights the ongoing challenges in global health security and the need for rapid, coordinated responses to emerging infectious diseases. It also underscores the importance of continued investment in Africa’s public health infrastructure and early warning systems.