Africa CDC declares mpox a public health emergency
Al JazeeraAUG 14 2024
Amid the rapid spread of a concerning strain of the mpox, or monkeypox, virus across Central Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared its first-ever public-health emergency on Wednesday.Amid the rapid spread of a concerning strain of the mpox, or monkeypox, virus across Central Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Wednesday declared its first-ever public-health emergency.
The decision by the continent's leading health body follows the WHO's call for immediate action. The highly contagious disease, which causes body-wide lesions, has spread from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda.The spread of the highly contagious disease from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda has also prompted a call from the WHO for immediate action.
Since the beginning of the year, the DRC has reported 13.7K cases and 450 fatalities. Declaring a public health emergency will reportedly help government agencies coordinate and possibly increase medical aid to affected areas.
The latest strain of the mpox virus has quickly spread across at least 13 Central African nations. This outbreak demands urgent attention from the world to avoid a worsening crisis. By declaring the mpox outbreak a public health emergency, the African health authority hopes to mobilize the resources needed to effectively address and prevent the virus from spreading further. Urgent global action is required to help Africa procure 10M doses of the mpox vaccine.
While a new strain of mpox is spreading in Africa, the American public is less aware and fearful of it than in 2022. However, the majority of US adults know that individuals exposed to mpox can receive a vaccination for people with risk factors and to help prevent its spread. So far, only Africa's central and eastern regions have reported cases of the deadlier mpox strain, but the WHO must issue a global mpox advisory to inform the public of its likely return.