Africa CDC to declare health emergency as Mpox cases surge

The Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has announced it is set to declare a health emergency as monkeypox cases surge across the continent.

Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC), made the announcement during a webinar on Thursday on the Mpox outbreak situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other health bodies renamed monkeypox to “Mpox” in 2022 to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with the original name.

Kaseya highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated response to contain the disease.

“Mpox is the reality, and Africans are dying. We are taking decisive actions to protect our people. Next week, more likely, we will declare the Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) ” he said.