The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has declared monkeypox a public health emergency for continental security.
The announcement was made by the Director General of the Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, during a special Zoom press briefing on Tuesday.
Dr. Kaseya highlighted that the outbreak has rapidly spread across several African countries, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo being particularly affected.
The virus, which was first discovered in humans in the DRC in 1970, has seen a resurgence in recent months, prompting an urgent response from the Africa CDC.
This declaration comes just days ahead of a crucial meeting of the World Health Organization’s emergency committee on August 14.
During the meeting, the WHO will decide whether to declare a public health emergency of international concern, which is the highest level of alarm the organisation can raise.
The declaration is expected to mobilise critical funding and resources to combat the spread of the disease.
Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by a virus that can be transmitted from infected animals to humans, and from humans to humans, through close physical contact.
The disease typically presents with symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and large boil-like skin lesions, which can be severe in some cases.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
