The African Union’s health agency has issued a public health emergency declaration in response to the escalating mpox outbreak across the continent, describing it as a “clarion call for action.”
Jean Kaseya, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), announced during an online media briefing on Tuesday, “With a heavy heart but steadfast dedication to our people, we are declaring mpox a public health emergency of continental security.”
The outbreak of mpox has now spread across borders, impacting thousands throughout the continent. Families have been severely affected, and the widespread pain and suffering have reached every region.
As of August 4, there have been 38,465 reported cases and 1,456 deaths linked to mpox in Africa since January 2022.
“This declaration is far from symbolic; it is a critical call to action,” emphasized the health official. “We can no longer remain passive; we need to be proactive and vigorous in our efforts to control and eradicate this disease.”
Mpox is transmitted through close contact and presents with symptoms such as rashes, flu-like signs, and pus-filled lesions. While most cases are mild, the disease can be deadly, especially for children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.
The mpox outbreak has expanded across several African countries, with significant impact in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the virus was first identified in humans in 1970. While the initial spread was linked to an endemic strain known as clade 1, a new variant, clade 1b, is now spreading more easily through routine close contact.
Recent warnings from health officials highlight the concerning rate of transmission. So far this year, over 15,000 mpox cases and 461 deaths have been reported across the continent, reflecting a 160 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
In 2022, the virus was reported in over 100 countries, mainly spreading through sexual contact, which led to the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern. This was the highest alert level available.
After 10 months, the emergency was lifted as the situation was deemed under control.
Currently, health officials are set to discuss the spread of a new variant and whether to reinstate a similar international alert. Past emergencies were declared in response to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and an earlier mpox outbreak in 2022, both aimed at raising awareness about significant increases in cases.
