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Africa Mpox Public Health Emergency

• By Rich Health News Desk
• August 12, 2024

According to the Africa Center for Disease Control (CDC), this week's public health emergency of continental security (PHECS) concerning mpox is probably coming.

 

This is a result of the disease's novel variety proliferating.

 

Mpox, also known as monkey pox, is spread by intimate contact and results in sores filled with pus and symptoms similar to the flu. Although most cases are not serious, they can be.

 

As is the case with children, the new variety, called Clade Ib and prevalent largely in the Congo, spreads through intimate contact.

 

The director-general of the Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, announced that the number of cases recorded on the continent had increased by 160% from 2023 to 2024 and by 79% from 2022 to 2023.

 

He remarked, "One of the things that worries us is this."

 

In order to "get their blessing" and instructions before declaring a public health emergency, Kaseya said he will be speaking with the leaders of the African Union (AU) and the African Union Commission.

 

A law giving Africa CDC the authority to make autonomous decisions about public health was passed by the AU's executive council on July 17.

 

By doing this, he claimed, "member countries would be required to notify the continental body of any new cases, and the Africa CDC would be able to better coordinate cross-border responses."

 

Additionally, the director general stated that it would expedite the development of vaccines and allow for the mobilization of both domestic and foreign resources.

 

He continued by saying that following the announcement, he had discussed increasing vaccine output with officials of the German pharmaceutical company BioNTech.

 

He said, "Public health officials have warned that the situation could worsen, putting even more lives at risk, if urgent action is not taken."

 

"The need to contain the outbreak is becoming more urgent as the continent waits for the official PHECS declaration. It is anticipated that the proclamation will boost the exchange of vital information, expedite the delivery of medical supplies, and increase the general resilience of public health systems throughout Africa.”

 

The international community is keeping a careful eye on these developments because it knows that Africa's reaction to the Mpox outbreak will have a significant impact on public health security throughout the continent and beyond.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that this year has seen an unprecedented increase in cases across Africa.

 

According to the WHO, Congo has had over 13,000 suspected cases of mpox, with 503 deaths so far this year. This brings the total number of cases and deaths there from the beginning of 2023 to over 27,000, with over 1,000 deaths.

 

Cases of the novel variation have been documented from mid-July in Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya.