The World Health Organization has officially announced the mpox outbreaks in Congo and various African countries as a global emergency. The outbreaks have affected both children and adults in over a dozen nations, with a new strain of the virus spreading rapidly. Unfortunately, very few vaccine doses are currently available in the affected regions.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently declared the mpox outbreaks a public health emergency after recording over 500 deaths. They have requested international assistance in halting the virus’s transmission.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed his concern, stating, “This is something that should concern us all… The potential for further spread beyond Africa is very worrying.”

According to the Africa CDC, mpox, also known as monkeypox, has been identified in 13 countries this year. Over 96% of cases and fatalities are concentrated in Congo, with a 160% increase in cases and a 19% increase in deaths compared to the same period last year. To date, there have been over 14,000 reported cases and 524 fatalities.