By: Henrietta Afful
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has been declared a public health emergency in Africa by the continent’s leading health organization. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has expressed concern over the rapid spread of a new strain of the virus.
Since the start of the year (2024), the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported over 13,700 cases and 450 deaths.
The virus, which can cause widespread lesions on the body, has also spread to neighboring countries including Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), Kenya, and Rwanda.
“At least 13 African countries, including previously unaffected nations like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, have reported Mpox outbreaks. So far in 2024, these countries have confirmed 2,863 cases and 517 deaths, primarily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Suspected cases across the continent have surged past 17,000, a significant increase from 7,146 cases in 2022 and 14,957 cases in 2023”, the Africa CDC said.
The declaration of a public health emergency aims to enhance government coordination and potentially boost the supply of medical resources and aid to affected regions.
Head of the Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, warned that the disease could escalate uncontrollably without prompt action however, he indicated that there is no need for travel restrictions at this time .
Emphasizing the urgency of swift and decisive action, Dr. Kaseya said, “Today, we declare this PHECS to mobilize our institutions, our collective will, and our resources to act—swiftly and decisively. This empowers us to forge new partnerships, strengthen our health systems, educate our communities, and deliver life-saving interventions where they are needed most. There is no need for travel restrictions at this time.”
“This declaration is far from a formality. It is a decisive call to action,” Kaseya said. “We can no longer afford to be reactive; we must adopt a proactive and aggressive approach to contain and eradicate this threat” he said.
From May 2022 to July 2023, Mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the WHO.
MPOX Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment
Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, with two distinct clades: Clade I and Clade II.
Common symptoms include a skin rash or mucosal lesions lasting 2–4 weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
The virus can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with an infectious person, contaminated materials, or infected animals.
