A health emergency has been declared in Africa following a widespread outbreak of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.
This was announced by the African Union’s public health agency, Africa CDC, at a press conference on Tuesday.
It is with a heavy heart, but with unwavering commitment to our African citizens, that we declare mpox as a health emergency, said Jean Kaseya who is the director of the public health agency Africa CDC, according to AFP.
Kaseya also said mpox affects thousands of people on the African continent. Mpox outbreaks have occurred in several African countries, but the Democratic Republic of the Congo is particularly affected.
Suspected to be behind the miscarriage
Since January 2022, 38,465 cases of mpox have been recorded in Africa and 1,456 people have died from the disease, according to figures released by the CDC on August 4.
Declaring a state of emergency is not just a formality, it is a clear call to action, said Jean Kaseya.
The current variant of the virus does not cause a rash on the whole body and is transmitted via skin contact. It is transmitted from mother to child, which is suspected to be behind several miscarriages and stillbirths.