The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared the ongoing Mpox outbreak in Africa a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
A public health emergency of international concern is a formal declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of an extraordinary event that is determined to constitute a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response.
The Africa CDC Director-General, Jean Kaseya, made the declaration on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, while addressing a special online media briefing on the multi-country Mpox outbreak in Africa. He expressed concern over the rapid spread of the disease, mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to its neighboring countries.
This comes as data from the Africa CDC indicating that at least 13 African countries, including previously unaffected nations like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, have reported Mpox outbreaks and that these countries have confirmed 2,863 cases and 517 deaths, primarily in the DRC. The data further indicates that suspected cases across the continent have surged past 17,000, a significant increase from 7,146 cases in 2022 and 14,957 cases in 2023.
According to the Africa CDC chief, the declaration will contribute to a greater mobilization of resources while also strengthening the international notification mechanism, as the declaration will obligate AU member states to notify the Africa CDC of any health measures implemented in response to the emergency. It is also expected to increase funding and resource mobilization against the outbreak.
Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, with common symptoms including a skin rash or mucosal lesions lasting 2–4 weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
