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The World Health Organisation has declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa a "public health emergency of international concern," the highest alarm it can sound.
Mpox, which originated in Africa, caused a global outbreak in 2022. The disease, transmitted from infected animals to humans and also human-to-human through close contact, has seen a significant increase in reported cases, with over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths so far this year, exceeding last year's total.
The WHO Director-General has expressed grave concern over the emergence of a new clade of mpox and its rapid spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries, calling for a coordinated international response to stop the outbreaks and save lives.
The African Union's health watchdog and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have also voiced concern and pledged to play a crucial role in containing the spread of the disease.
