Africa public health body declares mpox emergency

14/8/2024 6:51

        Africa's top public health body declared what it termed a "public health emergency of continental security" on Tuesday (Aug 13) over an outbreak of mpox that has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring countries.
        
        The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) had warned last week of an alarming rate of spread of the viral infection, which is transmitted through close contact and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions.
        
        Most cases are mild but it can kill.
        
        The outbreak in Congo began with the spread of an endemic strain, known as Clade I. But the new variant, known as Clade Ib, appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, particularly among children.