Africa CDC Declares Mpox Public Health Emergency Amid Rising Cases, Fatalities

The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared Mpox (Monkeypox) a continental public health emergency amid its growing spread and rise in fatalities.

The Director General of Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, announced this on Tuesday during a “special press briefing”, saying:

“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.”

“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.”

“This declaration is not merely a formality; it is a clarion call to action. It is a recognition that we can no longer afford to be reactive. We must be proactive and aggressive to contain and eliminate this threat,” Kaseya said.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, which also includes variola, cowpox, vaccinia, and other viruses. The virus has two genetic clades, known as clades I and II.

West Africa Weekly reported that the Clade Ib subclade has severely affected several African nations, particularly the DR Congo, since September 2023.

According to Africa CDC, 16 out of 55 African nations have been affected by the disease. Since January 2022, Africa has reported 38,465 cases and 1,456 deaths, with 887 cases and five deaths reported last week alone.

Kaseya, however, said the development is not just an African issue but a global threat requiring solidarity and collective action. “We’ve consulted with over 600 experts, partners, and stakeholders to inform our response,” he said.

Mpox is transmitted through close contact and causes rashes, flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Most cases are mild, but it can kill. The disease can be dangerous for children, pregnant women and those with suppressed immune systems.

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