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A LEADING disease monitoring agency has declared a public health emergency across Africa, including Zimbabwe, following the outbreak of Mpox, a highly infectious disease previously known as monkeypox.

Scientists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) say the new strain of Mpox is spreading at an alarming speed.

According to the latest quoted statistics, since the beginning of 2024, more than 13 700 cases and 450 deaths have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country which many Zimbabweans, mostly truckers, visit on business.

According to the latest epidemiological trends, including an update on the geographic expansion of Mpox in the World Health Organisation (WHO) African Region (July–August 2024), the disease is readily spreading across the continent.

Speaking during a live Press conference Tuesday, Africa CDC director-general, Jean Kaseya officially declared the ongoing Mpox outbreak a public health emergency and urged stakeholders to collaborate and safeguard the security of millions of people.

“This declaration highlights the urgency and gravity of the situation, demanding immediate and coordinated action across Africa. We are mobilizing all available resources, working closely with Member States, strengthening partnerships, and intensifying efforts to contain and mitigate the impact of Mpox,” Kaseya said.

The virus, which causes lesions across the whole body, has reportedly spread to other African countries, including Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR) Kenya, and Rwanda.

The declaration of a public health emergency helps governments coordinate their response and potentially increase the flow of medical supplies and aid into affected areas.

Kaseya warned that the disease could spiral out of control if immediate steps were not taken to contain it.

“This declaration is not merely a formality. It is a clarion call to action. It is a recognition that we can no longer afford to be reactive. We must be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to contain and eliminate this threat,” he said.

Kaseya said there were plans to secure about 10 million doses to limit the spread of the outbreak in Africa.

According to research, there are three vaccines available to prevent Mpox but only persons at risk, or who have been in close contact with an infected person, are usually vulnerable.

Mpox spreads from animals to humans and between people through close contact with someone who is infected, including through sex, skin-to-skin contact, and talking or breathing close to another person.

It can cause symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and lesions across the body. If left untreated, Mpox can be deadly.