The World Health Organisation has declared the Monkey Pox outbreak a public health emergency, a day after the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) same.
Mpox cases are surging at an “unprecedented” scale in multiple African countries this year, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and neighbouring Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
“Today, the Emergency Committee on #mpox met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.
Today, the Emergency Committee on #mpox met and advised me that in its view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice.@WHO is on the ground, working with the affected countries, and others at risk, through our…
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— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 14, 2024
As of Aug. 8, at least 2030 confirmed cases and 15 deaths have been recorded in 15 African countries, compared to 1145 cases and seven deaths last year, the WHO said. Separately, the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) estimates a 160% increase in cases and 19% rise in deaths over the past year.
