The World Health Organization has officially labeled the recent outbreaks of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African regions as a global health emergency. This declaration comes as cases of the virus have been confirmed in both children and adults across more than a dozen countries, with the emergence of a novel strain of the virus. Unfortunately, the availability of the vaccine in Africa remains limited.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) recently raised the alarm about the escalating monkeypox outbreaks, which have resulted in over 500 deaths. Urgent international aid has been called for to contain the spread of the virus and prevent further casualties.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern, emphasizing the potential for the virus to spread not only within Africa but also beyond the continent. The Africa CDC highlighted that the majority of cases and fatalities have been reported in Congo, with the virus detected in 13 countries this year. The total number of cases has surged by 160% compared to the previous year, with a 19% increase in fatalities, totaling over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths so far.
The situation has raised alarms among experts, with Salim Abdool Karim, a leading infectious disease specialist from South Africa and chair of the Africa CDC emergency group, warning that the new strain of monkeypox originating in Congo appears to have a higher fatality rate of 3 to 4%, a significant increase from previous outbreaks where less than 1% of infected individuals died.
Michael Marks, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, supported the decision to declare the monkeypox outbreaks as an emergency, stressing that increased global support is crucial for effective containment efforts. He criticized the international community for waiting until situations deteriorate significantly before providing essential resources.
Officials from Africa CDC revealed that around 70% of monkeypox cases in Congo involve children under the age of 15, with 85% of the reported deaths occurring within this vulnerable age group.