The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has officially designated mpox as a “public health emergency of continental security.” This urgent announcement was made in response to the swift proliferation of a new variant of the virus, identified as Clade Ib, which has led to more than 13,700 cases and 450 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the start of the year.
Mpox is a viral disease transmitted through close contact, commonly presenting with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Although many cases are mild, the virus can be deadly, particularly with the Clade Ib variant, which spreads more easily through routine close contact, including among children.
Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa CDC, declared the health emergency during a virtual briefing on Tuesday. He voiced his grave concerns about the virus’s impact on the continent, stating, “With a heavy heart but with an unyielding commitment to our people, to our African citizens, we declare mpox as a public health emergency of continental security. Mpox has now crossed borders, affecting thousands across our continent, families have been torn apart, and the pain and suffering have touched every corner of our continent.”
The virus has also reached several other African countries, such as Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda, leading the Africa CDC to initiate urgent measures to curb its spread and lessen its impact on public health across the continent.
