Urgent action needed to combat spread of virus and protect vulnerable populations.Image: (NICD)
(The Post News)- The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared its first-ever Public Health Emergency due to the rapidly worsening mpox outbreak in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
At least 24 people have been infected with the virus in South Africa, highlighting the need for urgent action to combat the spread of the virus and protect those most at risk.
The declaration follows a thorough assessment of the situation, including the rapid spread of the new Clade 1b variant, which has shown a concerning trend of affecting children under the age of 5.
The mpox outbreak has had a severe impact in Africa, with over 38,000 cases and 1,400 deaths reported since January 2022, emphasizing the need for enhanced measures to address the outbreak.
The Africa CDC has called for improved surveillance, contact tracing, and case management, as well as scaling up vaccination efforts, including assessing how well vaccines work in children.
Addressing overcrowding in hospitals and improving diagnostic capacity are also crucial steps in combating the spread of the virus.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) will convene an emergency committee meeting to discuss whether the situation warrants a public health emergency of international concern.
The Centre for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has committed funding for studies to assess how well vaccines work in children and post-exposure vaccination.
Collective action is necessary to combat the rapidly worsening mpox outbreak and protect vulnerable populations.
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