The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the outbreak of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, in Africa as a public health emergency. The situation, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has raised alarms, with a new variant of the virus spreading rapidly.
Since January 2022, Africa has reported 38,465 cases of mpox, resulting in 1,456 deaths. The DRC has been particularly hard-hit, accounting for over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths this year alone.
In response to the crisis, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that the situation demands the "highest level of alarm under international health law." The WHO has allocated $1.5 million from its contingency fund and is urging international donors to contribute towards the $15 million needed for an effective response.
Health experts are calling for immediate action to enhance access to testing, vaccines, and treatment in the affected regions. They are also advocating for awareness campaigns to combat the stigma associated with the virus. Professor Trudie Lang, a global health researcher at Oxford University, noted, "I have heard so many people refer to this as being very similar to the early days of HIV." Dr. Ayoade Alakija, Chair of the Africa Vaccine Delivery Alliance, added that if this outbreak were occurring in Europe, it would have already been classified as a major international health emergency.
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