Africa’s top health authority, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has declared mpox, the highly infectious disease formerly known as monkeypox, a public health emergency. The declaration follows a significant increase in cases across the continent, raising alarm among scientists about the rapid spread of a new strain.
Since the start of the year, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has recorded more than 13,700 cases and 450 deaths. The virus, which can cause widespread lesions on the body, has also spread to several other African nations, including Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), Kenya, and Rwanda.
The declaration is expected to enhance coordination among governments in their response to the outbreak and may facilitate the flow of medical supplies and aid to the most affected regions. Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa CDC, emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning that without immediate action, the disease could spiral out of control.
“This declaration is not merely a formality. It is a clarion call to action. We can no longer afford to be reactive. We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat,” Dr. Kaseya said.
Health authorities beyond Africa are also closely monitoring the situation. On July 29, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control assessed the risk of mpox in Europe as “very low.”
Mpox is a zoonotic virus, spreading from animals to humans and between people through close contact with an infected person, including through sexual contact, skin-to-skin contact, and respiratory droplets. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and body-wide lesions, and if left untreated, the disease can be fatal.
There are two main strains of the virus. The milder strain was responsible for the global outbreak in 2022, affecting Europe, Australia, the United States, and other countries, primarily spreading through sexual contact. The more deadly strain, endemic to central Africa, is behind the new variant currently spreading in the DRC.
Although three vaccines exist, they are typically reserved for individuals at high risk or those who have been in close contact with an infected person. Dr. Kaseya revealed plans to secure around 10 million vaccine doses to curb the spread of mpox across Africa.
