The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the continent’s leading health authority, has officially declared the ongoing mpox (previously known as monkeypox) outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS). Scientists from the Africa CDC express grave concern over the rapid spread of a new variant of mpox across the continent.
Since the start of 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reported over 13,700 confirmed cases and approximately 450 fatalities due to mpox. The virus, capable of causing widespread lesions throughout the body, has also been detected in several other African nations, including Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), Kenya, and Rwanda.
This declaration is expected to enhance coordination among African governments in their response efforts, potentially facilitating the distribution of essential medical resources and assistance to the affected regions. Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Director General of Africa CDC, emphasized the situation’s urgency, stating, “This declaration is not merely a formality. It is a clarion call to action. This signifies that we can no longer afford to be reactive. We must adopt a proactive and aggressive approach to contain and eliminate this threat.”
Health officials from outside Africa are closely monitoring the situation to assess the potential for further spread of the mpox outbreak. On July 29, 2024, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control assessed the risk posed by the mpox virus in Europe as “very low.”
Mpox is primarily transmitted from animals to humans and can also spread between individuals through close contact with an infected person, including sexual activity, skin-to-skin contact, and even conversations or breathing nearby. Symptoms can include fever, muscle pain, and body lesions, and if left untreated, mpox can be fatal.
There are two main variants of the mpox virus identified. The less severe variant was responsible for the global outbreak in 2022, which affected regions such as Europe, Australia, and the United States, primarily spreading through sexual contact. The more lethal strain, endemic to central Africa, has led to a new variant in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
While there are three vaccines available, they are typically administered only to individuals who are at risk or who have had close contact with someone infected. Dr. Kaseya stated that there are plans to secure about 10 million vaccine doses to limit the spread of mpox in Africa
