The Africa Centre for Disease Control proclaimed a public health emergency on Tuesday, prompted by the rapidly spreading mpox outbreak across Africa, with the Democratic Republic of Congo being the epicenter.
The outbreak has ravaged multiple African nations, with a severe and escalating outbreak in DRC now spilling beyond its borders.
A novel viral strain, which emerged in September 2023, has been detected outside DRC for the first time.
Since January, DRC has grappled with a devastating mpox outbreak, reporting over 14,000 cases and 511 fatalities.
Although mpox outbreaks have plagued DRC for decades, with steadily increasing annual cases, the first six months of this year have seen a surge in cases matching last year’s total, with the virus infiltrating previously unaffected provinces.
“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,” the Director-General of the Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, said during an online media briefing.
“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,” he stated.
Kaseya noted that the declaration is not merely a formality, it is a clarion call to action.
“It is a recognition that we can no longer afford to be reactive. We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat,” he added.
