Mpox in Africa

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, cases of Mpox have risen sharply. 14,000 cases have been reported, the majority being children, and there have been 511 deaths.  The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is prepared to declare a "continental security public health emergency" as early as next week. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. It can spread through close contact with infected people, animals, or contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, which usually last 2-4 weeks. Vaccination is recommended for high-risk groups and can prevent severe disease if given immediately after exposure. Treatment is primarily supportive, with antivirals such as tecovirimat used in severe cases. The disease has been increasing worldwide since 2022, primarily affecting regions outside Africa. Africa is currently very worried and there is a reason for this. Mpox has been detected in countries where there have never been cases of Mpox before. About 50 confirmed cases and further suspected cases have been reported in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda (WHO). The African continent wants to declare a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) because Mpox (monkeypox) is spreading in many countries. The Director General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Jean Kaseya, said this about the situation of the Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries. According to Kaseya, this move is to mobilize resources, streamline cross-border responses and strengthen the continent's health systems against the outbreak. It is also important to involve the continent's youth in the fight against the outbreak.