Africa CDC Declares Mpox A Public Health Emergency

On Tuesday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared a public health emergency as the mpox outbreak continues to escalate across the continent. Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is a highly contagious viral disease that has been spreading at an alarming rate, raising significant concern among Africa CDC scientists.

The outbreak, which initially emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has since crossed borders, affecting neighboring countries. Mpox spreads through close contact, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While the disease can be fatal, most cases are mild. However, the current outbreak has seen the more dangerous Clade Ib variant, which is particularly affecting children, contributing to the continent’s growing crisis.

According to the Africa CDC, there has been a 160% surge in mpox cases compared to 2023, with over 15,000 cases and 461 deaths reported. The DRC was hit first by Clade I before the deadlier Clade Ib variant began to spread.

In response to the crisis, the U.S. State Department announced plans to update its travel advisory for the region. Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel noted that the U.S. has already contributed more than $17 million to bolster mpox preparedness and response efforts in Central and Eastern Africa.

Clade II, a milder strain of mpox, sparked a global outbreak in 2022, prompting the World Health Organization to declare it a public health emergency. The Africa CDC is set to convene this week to assess whether the current outbreak warrants a similar global declaration. Although there are three approved vaccines available, they remain difficult to obtain, further complicating efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

As the continent grapples with this public health emergency, swift and coordinated action will be essential to prevent further escalation of the mpox outbreak.