Health emergency declared in Africa as MPOX cases rise

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared a state of health emergency following the increase in Mpox cases on the continent.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 13,700 cases and 450 deaths have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The virus, which can cause lesions across the whole body, has spread to other African countries, including Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), Kenya and Rwanda.

The declaration of a public health emergency will help governments co-ordinate their response and potentially increase the flow of medical supplies and aid into affected areas.

The head of the Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, warned that the disease could spiral out of control if immediate steps were not taken to contain it.

“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 in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat,” he said.