Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA (EI): The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has officially declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security as the case count has now surpassed 40,000.
During an online briefing on Tuesday, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya highlighted the gravity of the situation. He noted that the disease’s rapid transmission, particularly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to neighboring regions, raises significant concerns.
Recent figures from the Africa CDC show a worrying trend, with over 2,000 new mpox cases reported in just the last week. According to Africa CDC, since the beginning of 2022 and as of last week, the continent has recorded approximately 38,465 cases and 1,456 deaths. The current surge has propelled the total number of cases beyond the 40,000 threshold, impacting 16 African nations in total.
Mpox, commonly known as monkeypox, was first identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958 and is believed to be transmitted from wildlife to humans, as well as through human-to-human contact. Symptoms typically include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
“Mpox is affecting thousands and has caused immense suffering throughout our continent,” Kaseya stressed. The AU’s health watchdog highlighted critical challenges contributing to the outbreak’s spread, such as delayed detection and management of cases, social-political crises, and climate change, while also raising alarms about the potential for transmission linked to sexual contact.
The emergency public health declaration followed extensive discussions with public health experts and African leaders. Kaseya emphasized that the spreading mpox represents not just another challenge but a crisis that necessitates a unified response. “This is a time to showcase our collective humanity, strength, and solidarity,” he stated.
“This is a clarion call for action,” Kaseya asserted. He said being reactive to public health issues is no longer an option, and that the African continent “must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat.”
Unifying the continent against mpox is essential, Kaseya argued. Noting that the African continent has weathered many challenges, and needs to harness that unity once again as the continent faces yet another threat in the form of the ongoing mpox outbreak.
“Our continent has seen many struggles. We have faced various pandemics, natural disasters, and conflicts. Yet, to every adversity, we have reasons, not as fragmented nations but as one Africa which is resilient, resourceful and resolute. Today, as we confront the threat of mpox, we must summon that same spirit of solidarity,” he said.
Kaseya also urged the international community to support Africa in mitigating the virus’s spread. “Mpox is a global issue—a threat that transcends borders, race, and creed. In this moment of vulnerability, our strength lies in solidarity,” he said.
Despite concerns that the emergency declaration might disrupt the movement of people and goods across Africa, Kaseya reassured the public that the Africa CDC does not recommend such interruptions.
He said the continent will continue normal movement while implementing measures to tackle the outbreak.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the mpox outbreak in the Eastern DRC, which is currently the most mpox affected country in Africa, is caused by a new offshoot of the virus called clade 1b.
Noting that cases of this new strain have emerged in neighboring countries where mpox had previously not been reported, he said there are also outbreaks of other clades in different parts of the continent.
PHOTO, from the UN World Health Organization (WHO), shows symptoms of Mpox, commonly known as monkeypox, which typically include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
