Stay Ahead, Stay Global 
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has officially declared the ongoing mpox outbreak a \"continental emergency,\" according to Health Minister Roger Kamba on Monday.
Since the start of this year, the DRC has recorded 16,700 confirmed or suspected mpox cases, resulting in over 570 deaths. This represents an increase from last week's 15,664 suspected cases and 548 deaths.
Back in December 2022, the DRC recognized mpox as a national outbreak, leading to the establishment of an incident management system in February 2023 to manage the rising number of cases.
The mpox virus is currently affecting 17 African countries and several others outside the continent, with a notable impact on younger populations, particularly children under 15. Health Minister Kamba highlighted this trend as a \"novelty\" in the outbreak's progression.
\"But I remind you that the vaccine is only part of the response; the first line of defense is adherence to preventive measures,\" Kamba stated, adding that the country is set to receive a batch of mpox vaccines next week.
The minister also mentioned that government interventions have been effective in preventing a larger-scale spread within the country.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern last Wednesday, following initial announcements on July 23, 2022. This declaration amplifies concerns about the virus's potential for increased global transmission.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the current mpox outbreak poses a public health emergency for the continent, with new cases in 2024 representing a 160-percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
The WHO noted that the outbreak, which originated from the DRC, has worsened due to the emergence of a more lethal variant of the virus, clade 1b, with an estimated mortality rate of 3.6 percent, significantly higher than previous strains.
Mpox, a viral infection causing pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms, is typically mild but can be fatal. The DRC is battling two strains: the endemic clade 1 and the new clade 1b offshoot.
The virus spreads through close physical contact, including sexual contact, but unlike pandemics like COVID-19, there is no evidence it spreads easily through the air.
The DRC is hopeful to receive its first doses of the mpox vaccine by next week, with Gavi committing up to $500 million to distribute vaccines to affected African countries.
Reference(s):
Mpox outbreak declared a "continental emergency" in DRC, killing 570
cgtn.com
