Monkeypox (Mpox) infection, which is spreading in Africa, has been declared a public health emergency on the continent, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The recent announcement was made by WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus following an emergency committee meeting of the World Health Organization. Previously, the African Union's health agency, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, had also declared Mpox a health emergency.
The disease has now spread to 18 countries in Africa, affecting 15,000 people and resulting in 461 deaths. Initially, the outbreak was caused by the Clade 1 variant of the pox virus. However, the emergence of a new variant, Clade 1b, has led to increased transmission, particularly among children.
Although many cases are not severe, some can result in complications that may be fatal. Mpox is reported to be spreading in countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya, and Uganda. In response to the outbreak, the United States has announced an additional $17 million in funding for the African continent to combat Mpox.
What is monkeypox? Monkeypox (Mpox) is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the orthopox virus family. This virus was first discovered in 1958. Monkeypox is related to the smallpox virus.
Until recently, it was primarily detected among individuals in Central and West Africa who had close contact with monkeys. The symptoms The main symptom is an itchy rash that appe.