 has declared the monkey pox epidemic in 13 African countries, as a global health emergency.){kind=link}
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the monkey pox epidemic in 13 African countries, as a global health emergency, on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
524 deaths and 14,000 suspected mpox cases have been recorded this year primarily in Democratic Republic of Congo. Neighbouring countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda has also recorded the cases.
Reportedly, the WHO has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), considering its highest level of alert, due to a new variant of the mpox viral disease in Africa.
The global health emergency was declared after an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has spread to neighbouring countries.
Referring to which the Director-General of WHO – Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the emergency committee met and advised him that in their view, the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. Then he accepted the advice and made a quick action. “This is something which must concern us all,” he said.
Tedros added further, “WHO is committed in the days and weeks ahead to coordinate the global response, working closely with each of the affected countries, and leveraging our on-the-ground presence, to prevent transmission, treat those infected, and save lives.”
However, the PHEIC declaration can accelerate research, funding and international public health measures in cooperation to contain a disease, which is already triggering emergency responses in countries worldwide under the legally binding International Health Regulations.
As per the sources, Monkey Pox or Mpox, can spread through close contact between individuals. While it is usually mild, but can also be fatal in some rare cases. The disease causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions over the body.
Disease outbreak in Congo, began with a strain known as clade-I, but a new variant clade-Ib appears to be spreading more easily.
Earlier, the top public health body of Africa declared an mpox emergency for the continent after warning that the viral infection was spreading at an alarming rate.
According to the reports by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 17,000 suspected mpox cases and 517 deaths have been recorded on the African continent so far this year, a 160 percent increase in cases compared with the same period last year, in 2023.
Chief of the staff of the regional health body – Ngashi Ngongo, said that an agreement had been reached with the European Union’s health task force and mpox vaccine manufacturer Bavarian Nordic to provide an initial 215,000 doses of the inoculant to Africa.
He said that they were still negotiating a deal for the continent to receive two million doses by the end of the year, and ten million by the end of the year 2025.
“We are also planning to saturate the media, both television and the radio, to ensure that all those that have access to the mentioned media can also receive the messages and information,” said Chief Ngongo.
He added, “But remember that 96% of cases are in the Democratic Republic of Congo and 60% of those cases are among the young people below the age of 18, so we’re also using social media to ensure that the young people are also reached.”