August 13, (THEWILL) – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), a health watchdog of the African Union (AU), has declared a public health emergency over the growing mpox outbreak on the continent.
Speaking during a virtual media briefing on Tuesday, the Head of the Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, declared: “With a heavy heart but with an unyielding commitment to our people, to our African citizens, we declare mpox as a public health emergency of continental security.
“Mpox has now crossed borders, affecting thousands across our continent, families have been torn apart and the pain and suffering have touched every corner of our continent.”
“This declaration is not merely a formality, it is a clarion call to action. It is a recognition that we can no longer afford to be reactive. We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat,” added Kaseya.
The outbreak has swept through several African countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to CDC data, as of August 4, there had been 38,465 cases of mpox and 1,456 deaths in Africa since January 2022.
