The African Region has seen an unprecedented rise in monkeypox cases since the start of 2024. WHO declares monkeypox outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ Health
The World Health Organization has declared the monkeypox outbreak in Africa a public health emergency of international concern. The decision was made by the WHO Emergency Committee, which met on Wednesday.
As WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported on the X website, experts who participated in the committee meeting recommended that the current monkeypox outbreak in Africa be taken seriously. “I have accepted this advice,” he wrote.
Since January, the African continent has seen what experts say is an unprecedented surge in monkeypox cases, with 15 countries reporting outbreaks. So far this year, 2,030 cases and 13 deaths have been confirmed – compared to 1,145 cases and seven deaths in all of 2023.
Symptoms and Distribution
Monkeypox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus. Typical symptoms include a skin rash or mucous membrane lesions that can last for two to four weeks and are accompanied by fever, headache, muscle and back pain, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes.
People can become infected with monkeypox through physical contact with an infected person, contaminated objects, or infected animals.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has the largest number of reported cases (90 percent), according to the WHO, including a new variant that emerged last September. Cases of this variant have been reported in neighboring Rwanda and Uganda, as well as Kenya. Analysis of cases in Burundi is ongoing.
Matsidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, stressed that the priority at this stage is to immediately interrupt the spread of the virus. “We are working with humanitarian partners to strengthen outbreak response,” Dr Moeti said.