Mpox Declared Global Health Emergency
This strain had previously been contained to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which had earlier seen over 14,000 cases and 511 deaths reported.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The World Health Organization on Wednesday, August 14 declared the ongoing Mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency.
WHO convened its emergency Mpox committee amid concerns that a deadlier strain of the virus, clade Ib, had reached four previously unaffected provinces in Africa.
This strain had previously been contained to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which had earlier seen over 14,000 cases and 511 deaths reported.
Independent experts on the committee met virtually to advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the severity of the outbreak.
World Health Organization offices in Geneva, Switzerland. /THINK GLOBAL HEALTH
After that consultation, he announced that he had declared a public health emergency of international concern, the highest level of alarm under international health law.
“This is something that should concern us all ... The potential for further spread beyond Africa and beyond is very worrying,” said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Also known as PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern), this is a status given by WHO to “extraordinary events” that pose a public health risk to other countries through the international spread of disease.
These outbreaks may require a coordinated international response, according to the organization.
With such a status, there will be increased scrutiny among travellers from African States affected by the disease including Kenya as well as more joint efforts to stem the spread of the disease.
The highly contagious disease, characterised by flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, has spread beyond Congo's borders, affecting countries such as Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Rwanda.
On August 13, the disease was declared a public health emergency by the Africa CDC. Kenya, despite reporting just a single case of Mpox, finds itself on high alert alongside several other African nations as the continent grapples with a rapidly spreading strain of the virus.
The public health emergency declaration was expected to galvanise government efforts across the continent, enabling better coordination in response strategies and potentially unlocking a crucial influx of medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the hardest-hit regions.
The declaration of a public health emergency is expected to facilitate better coordination of response efforts and potentially increase the flow of medical supplies and aid into affected areas. However, significant challenges remain.
Despite the urgent need for vaccines, the availability of doses is severely limited. Reports indicate that only 65,000 doses might be available for the entire region in the coming months, with vaccination campaigns unlikely to begin before October.
Read also: Kenya Confirms Outbreak Of Mpox: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
The spread of Mpox has been particularly alarming in Congo, where the country is battling what experts describe as a "severe outbreak." With over 14,000 cases and 511 deaths reported, the situation is dire, and the threat of the virus spilling over into neighbouring countries has become a reality.
