2024-08-13 15:14:24
On July 19, 2024, a child suspected of having measles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The African Union’s public health agency, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announced the situation without waiting for approval from the World Health Organization (WHO). “Public Health Emergency” Facing the mpox epidemic (for Monkeypox or monkeypox) is occurring in several countries on the African continent. “This statement is more than just a formality, it is a clear call to action.””, insisted the leader of the pan-African institution, Jean Kaseya, on Tuesday, 13 August. “MPox has now crossed borders, affecting thousands of people across our continent. The manager insisted, With a heavy heart, but with an unwavering commitment to our people, our African citizens. »
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In fact, the news comes a day before a meeting of the World Health Organization’s emergency committee, which must also determine whether the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, the highest health alert level. Data released by the pan-African agency last week showed that 16 African countries have reported 38,465 cases of MPOX since January 2022, resulting in 1,456 deaths, with the number of cases in 2024 increasing by 160% compared to the previous year.
While the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) currently pays the heaviest toll from the disease, cases have also emerged in Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, as well as Morocco, Egypt, Sudan, and Ivory . Nigeria.
“Over-reliance”
In particular, the reclassification of measles epidemics should free up funds for vaccine acquisition and provide for a coordinated continental response. “This is a realization that we can no longer be passive about”, affirms Jean Cassia. We must be proactive in our efforts to contain and eradicate this scourge. »
The United States said on Tuesday “Close coordination” Working with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other affected countries and health organizations. “We are closely monitoring the spread of MPOX in Central Africa. We are pleased to see international leadership in this field”“, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters.
Also Read | Mpox: DRC to give emergency approval to two vaccines and a treatment to curb outbreak
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For Boghuma Titanji, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at Emory University (Ga.), the Africa CDC announcement is “A crucial step” Strengthen coordination within African countries and encourage African countries to release funds to fight the epidemic. “Over-reliance on external aid highlights a major flaw in the current response”the Cameroon expert stated in a press release.
A new, more deadly strain
Monkeypox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can be spread from animals to humans, but can also be spread through close physical contact with an infected person. The disease was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the former Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo).
In 2022, the global pandemic finally spread, driven by a new strain of the virus, in about a hundred countries where the disease was not endemic, primarily affecting gay and bisexual men. In the face of the global epidemic outbreak, the World Health Organization issued the highest level of alert in July 2022, and less than a year later, in May 2023, the highest level of alert was lifted. 140 people died.
ALSO READ | Monkeypox: A new, more dangerous strain emerging in Democratic Republic of Congo worries WHO and researchers
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But for nearly a year, the continent has been facing the spread of a new strain, discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo in September 2023, that is considered deadlier and more transmissible than previous strains. The latter causes a rash all over the body, while the previous condition presents as rashes and localized lesions in the mouth, face or genitals.
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