NAIROBI: The African Union’s health agency announced on Thursday that it is “likely” to declare a public health emergency next week due to the escalating mpox outbreak across the continent. This declaration will enable the release of funds to combat the outbreak, including the acquisition of crucial vaccines, and will initiate a coordinated continental response to the virus.
Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), indicated during an online media briefing that the health emergency declaration is expected next week. According to Africa CDC, at least 16 of Africa’s 55 countries have been affected by mpox, with a total of 38,465 cases and 1,456 deaths reported since January 2022. Last week alone, 887 cases and five deaths were recorded.
“We are seeing a shift from two outbreaks per week to three new outbreaks per week,” Kaseya noted, emphasizing the vaccine shortage across the continent.
Formerly known as monkeypox, mpox is a viral disease transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals or from person to person via close physical contact. The disease manifests with fever, muscle aches, and large, boil-like skin lesions.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it would urgently convene an expert committee to determine whether the growing mpox outbreak in Africa should be classified as an international emergency.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated during a press conference that the committee, composed of independent experts from various relevant fields worldwide, would meet soon to provide guidance on whether the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the highest alert the WHO can issue. Only Tedros has the authority to declare a PHEIC, which would then trigger emergency responses globally under the International Health Regulations.
