On Tuesday, the African Union’s health authority declared a public health emergency in response to a significant outbreak of mpox, which has been rapidly spreading since July.
In an online briefing, Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), emphasized the need for urgent and comprehensive measures to address the crisis.
As of August 4, the Africa CDC reported 38,465 cases of mpox and 1,456 deaths across the continent since January 2022. The outbreak has particularly affected the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and has now been confirmed in nearly all east and central African countries.
Mpox, a disease transmitted through close contact, presents with symptoms including rashes, flu-like signs, and pus-filled wounds. While many cases are mild, there have been confirmed fatalities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that its emergency committee will convene on Wednesday to consider whether to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
