Monkeypox Outbreak Declared a Public Health Emergency in Africa
Published: August 8, 2024, 8:00 PM
From January 2024 until today, Africa has witnessed an unprecedented surge in monkeypox (MPXV) cases, with confirmed outbreaks in 15 countries. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the African Union (AU) requested on Thursday the 8th the declaration of a “public health emergency of continental importance.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 15 African countries are currently reporting mpox outbreaks, with a total of 2,030 confirmed cases and 13 deaths so far this year, compared to 1,145 cases and seven deaths in all of 2023.
Mpox virus, previously known as rabies virus, is a virus that belongs to the poxvirus family. It is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can spread from animals to people and between people.
Common symptoms include skin or mucosal sores that may last two to four weeks, fever, headache, muscle pain, back pain, low energy, and swelling.
Care is currently limited to symptom relief, but various treatments are being tested to combat mpox. However, to effectively combat the outbreak, the director general of CDC Africa, Jean Kaseya, estimates that at least ten million vaccines are needed, a figure far exceeding the 200,000 currently available.
Consideration for Global Emergency Declaration
The WHO reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo accounts for 90% of the reported cases, with a new variant emerging in September. Cases of this variant have also been recorded in neighboring countries like Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Burundi. Experts worry that this new variant, known as Clade I, is more lethal.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of WHO expressed concern, stating that the mutant virus has the “potential for further international spread within and outside Africa.” He called for increased funding and support for comprehensive response measures.
The outbreak has also reached Goma, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s most important city, due to its international airport with frequent flights to Europe.
Global health experts emphasize the risk of infected travelers spreading the disease beyond Africa.
Preventing the Spread of Leprosy
The AU CDC director, Jean Kaseya, urged the international community to unite and take action to understand the magnitude of the problem and prevent a potential epidemic.
While the WHO is responsible for declaring a “public health emergency of continental importance,” the AU CDC emphasizes the importance of global collaboration to address the outbreak effectively.
RM CP
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