As mpox cases surge dramatically across Africa, health officials have declared the continent’s first-ever public health emergency, signaling a desperate call for international support. This unprecedented move comes as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reports alarming increases in both infections and fatalities due to the disease, formerly known as monkeypox.
On August 13, 2024, the Africa CDC announced the emergency declaration just a day before a World Health Organization (WHO) committee is scheduled to review the global situation. The last time the WHO declared a public health emergency was in May 2023, after a worldwide outbreak began in 2022. While global numbers had eased following that period, Africa has faced a troubling resurgence.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa CDC, emphasized the severity of the crisis in his address, stating that "the world cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this crisis." Mpox, which spreads through close contact and sexual networks, has shown troubling signs of severe disease in vulnerable populations, including children and those with compromised immune systems, such as individuals living with HIV.
The outbreak is particularly severe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where a new and more dangerous strain of the virus is driving a spike in cases. Since the beginning of 2024, Africa has reported over 15,000 mpox cases and 461 deaths, representing a staggering 160 percent increase from the same period in the previous year. The virus has now spread to 18 countries, including recent reports from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
In response to the crisis, the Africa CDC has secured an agreement for the procurement and rapid distribution of 200,000 vaccine doses from Bavarian Nordic. However, they are calling for over 10 million doses to effectively manage and mitigate the outbreak. The emergency declaration is seen as a critical step in mobilizing global resources and support.
The WHO is set to convene on August 14, 2024, to determine whether to reinstate the global public health emergency status. This decision will likely hinge on the new strain's impact and the global response to the crisis. Historically, the WHO has issued such declarations sparingly, with significant implications for international health responses.
In the meantime, international aid is beginning to flow. The United States has pledged an additional $10 million in support to the DRC and surrounding regions, on top of previous vaccine donations. Yet, there remains criticism about the adequacy of global response, with many experts arguing that past declarations did not sufficiently improve access to critical resources for affected regions.
As the situation unfolds, experts are increasingly concerned that the new mpox strain in the DRC could spark another global outbreak, similar to the widespread mpox cases seen two years ago. With global travel and interconnectedness, the potential for international spread is a pressing concern.
So, the Africa CDC's declaration of a public health emergency marks a pivotal moment in the fight against mpox. It underscores the urgent need for global solidarity and action to combat a disease that has already caused significant suffering and death across the continent.
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