Africa Declares Monkeypox Emergency Amid Rising Cases

Africa’s top public health body, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has declared a “public health emergency of continental security” due to a monkeypox outbreak spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries, Dawn online newspaper reported yesterday.

According to the source, Director General Jean Kaseya highlighted the alarming spread of the viral infection, which causes flu-like symptoms and lesions, and emphasized the need for urgent action.

This year, over 15,000 cases and 461 deaths have been reported across 18 countries, marking a 160% increase from the previous year. The outbreak began with Clade I, but the more transmissible Clade Ib variant is raising concerns, especially among children.

Kaseya stated that Africa requires over 10 million vaccine doses, yet only 200,000 are currently available. He assured that efforts are underway to secure more doses, starting with 3 million in 2024. The World Health Organization is also considering whether this outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.