The Facts

• Scientists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have declared Mpox, often known as monkeypox, a public health emergency in Africa.Amid the rapid spread of a concerning strain of the Mpox, or monkeypox, virus across Central Africa, the Africa CDC declared its first-ever public-health emergency on Wednesday. The WHO will discuss a global declaration during its meeting on August 14.

• The Africa CDC's decision follows the WHO's call for immediate action due to the rapid spread of the new mpox strain. The highly contagious disease, causing body-wide lesions, has spread from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda.The decision by the continent's leading health body follows a call for immediate action by the WHO. The highly contagious disease, causing body-wide lesions, has spread from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda.