The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Tuesday declared a public health emergency following a surge in mpox cases since July.
In a virtual briefing, Africa CDC Director Jean Kaseya urged swift and aggressive action to contain the outbreak. According to CDC data, as of Aug. 4, there have been 38,465 mpox cases and 1,456 deaths across Africa since January 2022.
The outbreak has affected multiple African countries, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) being particularly hard-hit. Most East and Central African nations have reported cases.
Mpox is spread through close contact and can cause rashes, flu-like symptoms, and pus-filled lesions. While most cases are mild, there have been confirmed fatalities.
The World Health Organization said Tuesday that its emergency committee will meet Wednesday to discuss whether the outbreak should be declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
